Tomorrow, Thursday April 18 at 9.30am
Kalbar Sunflower Festival, 56 Warumkarie Rd, Kalbar QLD 4309
Media are invited to preview the 2024 Kalbar Sunflower Festival this Thursday at 9.30am.
From a simple idea to plant sunflowers to survive the drought, the Kalbar Sunflower Festival in the Scenic Rim has become a juggernaut of joy, and this year leads the way as a celebration for all abilities, and all ages. The event runs from Friday to Sunday and while all tickets are sold out, this year there are some incredible new additions centred around accessibility…..
Owner Manager of Kalbar Sunflowers Jenny Jenner has introduced a Sensory Garden, and a Fairy Garden of mini-sunflowers for those in wheelchairs and littlies - so the flowers are at their respective eye height, and over 180m of wheelchair tracking through the sunflowers for added accessibility. There’s also a Quiet Tent for those with sensory needs, and buggy rides through the sunflowers for those with added accessibility issues.
The 2024 Kalbar Sunflower Festival will feature sunrise yoga and sound healing in the sunflowers, adults and children’s sunflower art classes, unique dining experience with long lunches and a dinner event, photography mini sessions, flower crown masterclasses and a range of other special events, workshops and experiences and even helicopter rides above the sunflower paddocks. Or just wander through the sunflower fields and enjoy the mountain views.
PLEASE let Kath Rose know if you would like attend for access – email kath@kathrose.com or call 0416 291 493
ABOUT THE KALBAR SUNFLOWER FESTIVAL – a celebration born of heartache
When life deals you heartache, grow Sunflowers and they will come. This is what the Jenners, a farming family in Kalbar in the Scenic Rim did in 2021. Three years later Jenny is preparing to plant more than a million sunflowers for the fourth annual Kalbar Sunflower Festival, now a three-day celebration of sunflowers, sunshine, happiness and big-heartedness from April 19 to 21.
In 2021, Lucerne farmers Jenny and Russell Jenner were struggling to keep their crops alive during one of the longest droughts in memory. Water had gotten so scarce they couldn’t grow their main crop, but after Russell brought a bunch of sunflowers home from the grocery store, they had a light bulb moment, sunflowers need very little water and they look spectacular, and from there the Festival grew.
Life has not gotten any easier for the Jenners. In late 2021 Russell was diagnosed with Stage 4 Oesophageal Cancer. His stoic nature saw him battle through and help create happiness at the 2022 and 2023 Festivals where over $115,000 was raised for cancer care. Unfortunately, Russell lost his battle a few months later in July 2023.
2024 is the first Festival without Russell, and Jenny is determined to continue farming and creating a joyful experience for visitors, dedicated to her very own Sunflower Man – Russell – and aiming to raise $100,000 for The Mater Cancer Care Centre at Springfield.
KALBAR SUNFLOWER FESTIVAL
April 19 to 21, 2024
#sunflowersforgood
Kalbar Sunflower Festival partners with Kalbar Progress Association, Kalbar Rural Fire Brigade and Boonah State High School.
Festival thanks Tourism and Events Queensland and the Scenic Rim Regional Council for their support.
For further information, interviews or imagery, please contact Kath Rose on 0416 291 493 or email kath@kathrose.com
Key Facts:
PLEASE let Kath Rose know if you would like attend for access – email kath@kathrose.com or call 0416 291 493
