Tualatin's last working farm opens its sunflower fields to the public Wednesday, Aug. 5, kicking off nearly three weeks of cut-your-own blooms, a maze, and farm activities across the 122-acre property.

Lee Farms, at 21975 S.W. 65th Ave., will run its annual Sunflower Festival Wednesdays through Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. through Sunday, Aug. 23.

The farm bills the event as Oregon's largest sunflower festival.

Owner Craig Lee, the fifth-generation farmer who runs the property, told Tualatin Life in an April 2021 profile that daughters Kara and Teagan started the sunflower operation and grow 50 different varieties. "Visitors post photos on social media, and that increases our business," he said at the time. The two sisters still manage the festival along with the farm's Fall Harvest Festival and Christmas tree season, according to the farm's website.

Annie Lee Bartelamia, Craig's daughter and sixth-generation farmer who operates the farm market and bakery, runs the retail side year-round. The market and bakery are open during festival hours and do not require a festival ticket.

What's included

General admission covers access to the sunflower fields, one free bloom to cut, a Sunflower Promenade walkthrough, a haymaze, barrel wagon rides, a bounce pillow, jump pad, slides, farm animal encounters, and a playground.

Online tickets are $14 for adults, $12 for seniors 65 and older and children ages 3–10, and free for children 2 and under, according to the festival's official website at oregonsunflowerfestival.com. Fees apply at checkout.

Parking is free. Last entry is at 4 p.m., and no pets are allowed on the property. Only ADA-registered service dogs are permitted.

Special events

The farm is hosting two Sunset & Sunflower Dinner in the Field events on Friday, Aug. 14, and Friday, Aug. 21, from 6 to 9 p.m. The six-course farm-to-table meal features Alumbra Cellars wine and Vanguard Brewing beer with live music. Tickets are $125 per person, ages 21 and over only, and must be purchased online in advance.

A butterfly release add-on costs $10 per Painted Lady butterfly, available on-site. Picnic packages for two are $90 and include a charcuterie basket, blanket, and cutlery.

A farm since 1869

Lee Farms traces its roots to 1869, when the Jurgen family settled in Tualatin. The Martinazzi family joined in 1889 and the Lee family in 1936. Now in its seventh generation of family operation, the farm opened strawberry fields for U-pick in the 1960s and added its pumpkin patch in the 1980s. Craig Lee told Tualatin Life the farm draws 800 cars at a time during peak summer days.

The farm notes that sunflowers are an agricultural crop subject to weather, and bloom timing can shift by seven to 10 days. Visitors can check the farm's Instagram accounts for updates.

Tickets are available at oregonsunflowerfestival.com. The farm limits daily ticket sales to manage capacity, so advance online purchase is recommended.