Flower power: Sunflower farm hosts festival
Katherine Mansfield
Katherine Mansfield
Mary Alyce Frick and her husband, Gary Chesla, of Harmony, share a smile among the sunflowers Monday during the annual Schwirian Sunflower Festival. People are invited to walk the grounds, pose for photos, pick flowers and enjoy eats and treats from local vendors through July 30.
A couple drink in the sights at Schwirian Sunflower Farm in Elizabeth, Monday during the annual sunflower festival, which runs through July 30. People from the greater Monongahela area and beyond made the drive to farm for photos, flower picking and good eats by local vendors and food trucks. (Photos by Katherine Mansfield)
Katherine Mansfield
Katherine Mansfield
Charlie Bell, 1, of North Baldwin, admires a sunflower in full bloom with her mom, Maddie Bell, right, and grandmother Paula Bell during the annual Schwirian Sunflower Festival in Elizabeth on Monday. Maddie and Paula have attended the festival every year since its inception.
Katherine Mansfield
Katherine Mansfield
Jackson Hamborsky, 3, takes a trike for a spin through Schwirian Sunflower Farm while his mom, Jessica Yenny, looks on Monday during the annual Sunflower Festival. “It’s just a nice environment. Everyone’s really friendly. It’s just really nice and relaxing,” said Yenny, of Monessen.
Kayla Nuttall, center, her friend, Carissa Hensler, left, and their children, Bryson Hensler, 6, Sabrina Nuttall, 18 months, Solara Nuttall, 4, and Layla Hensler, 5, enjoy a picnic lunch among the flowers Monday at Schwirian Sunflower Farm.
Katherine Mansfield
Brian and Tori Calvert made the trek from St. Clairsville, Ohio, to Elizabeth for the annual Schwirian Sunflower Festival Monday. The couple enjoyed walking the grounds, picking flowers and spending the afternoon surrounded by beauty.
Katherine Mansfield
Jenn Cimarolli pulls her daughter Mackenzie, 3, through the fields of Schwirian Sunflower Farm Monday while walking hand-in-hand with daughter Brooklyn, 5, during the annual sunflower fest. The trio, of Upper St. Clair, enjoyed the afternoon among the flowers.
Tucked away in Elizabeth, just a few miles from Monongahela’s Main Street, is an endless field of sunflowers planted and lovingly maintained by Jay and Leslee Schwirian.
Since 2020, people from as near as down the road and as far as Pittsburgh and beyond have traveled to the Schwirian Sunflower Farm to drink in the beauty, pick their own bouquets and enjoy eats and treats from local vendors and food trucks. This year’s Sunflower Festival kicked off Saturday, and folks have spent weekdays walking the grounds, taking in the sights and sounds.
“We come every year,” said Jessica Yenny, of Monessen, who spent Monday afternoon flower picking and keeping up with her son, Jackson Hamborsky, 3.
Tori and Brian Calvert enjoyed a drive from St. Clairsville, Ohio, to the farm earlier this week, where they, too, picked flowers and ogled the rolling fields of yellow.
“It’s pretty,” Tori Calvert said with a smile. Along with a lamb petting zoo, food trucks, popcorn popped on site and other goodies, the Schwirians sell a variety of sunflower oil-based products near the entrance, and Josh Muenzer will perform an acoustic sunset concert Thursday beginning at 6 p.m.
The festival continues through July 30. For more information, visit https://www.facebook.com/SchwirianSunflowers.