Thousands of blooming sunflowers will be showcased at Forks of the River Wildlife Management Area (FRWMA) during the sixth bi-annual Knoxville Sunflower Celebration Saturday, July 13, from 9 a.m. until noon EDT.
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, who owns and manages FRWMA, plants multiple fields with sunflowers once every two years and invites visitors to learn more about land management and habitat restoration as they wander through a sea of yellow flowers.
Touring the celebration is easy. Visitors can take a free shuttle from Maynard Glenn Ballfields, 2100 McClung Avenue. Shuttles will run continuously from 9 a.m. until noon. Limited parking is available at Ijams Nature Center and Ijams Quarry and a $5 fee applies. No parking will be permitted within the FRWMA during the celebration.
A great way to get to the fields is by joining the Cycology Bicycles guided bike ride leaving at 9 a.m. from Suttree Landing Park, 1001 Waterfront Drive Southeast.
Additionally, Kickstand Community Bike Shop will loan bikes to those who want to tour the sunflowers along the Will Skelton Greenway bordering the sunflower fields. Kickstand will be set up at the shuttle drop off area inside the FRWMA.
Guided walking tours of the sunflower fields are set for 9:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m., and 11:30 a.m. leaving from the shuttle drop-off spot in the center of the fields.
Food trucks will be located at the Ijams Quarries and sunflower gifts will be available in the Ijams Nature Center Gift Shop.
Celebration goers are reminded to bring water and to wear comfortable walking shoes. They are also reminded that the weather determined how much and when the sunflowers will bloom.
The Knoxville Sunflower Celebration is presented by Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency, Legacy Parks Foundation, Visit Knoxville, City of Knoxville Parks and Recreation and Ijams Nature Center.
More information is available at legacyparks.org or by calling Legacy Parks Foundation at 865-525-2585.