TMatt PhotographyFearless Fine ArtTips for the Trail

If you are heading out to the Sunflower Trail & Festival for the first time, here are some tips!

It s going to be hot. Dress for the heat–dry fit clothes, etc. Do not bother wearing your “good make up” and trying to look cute. Trust me on this one!
Bring an ice chest with lots of water and Gator Aid.
You know those cooling rags people wear around their necks ? Yea, get you some. Keep them in the ice chest to keep them cool. They actually work better if you put them on top of your head. Yea, you look silly but you are not going to care! 🙂
Wear hiking boots in the fields. Yea, I know it’s going to be hot and you think you will look silly. Between that and the wet rag on your head, you absolutely will look silly. Again, you will not care :). The rows in the fields are very uneven and there are stickers and all kinds of stuff. You need shoes to protect your ankles and give you good support. If you don’t wear hiking boots, at least dont wear sandals or flip flops-trust me on this!
Cover yourself in bug spray. The fields are amazing and the flowers are beautiful but there are all kinds of bugs in the fields! There may also be ticks. Thats another reason why I wear my hiking boots!
Bring cash! You will come across at least one lemonade stand being run by a kid!
Dont forget the sunscreen!!!
Bring something to cut your flowers with –some of the stalks are very thick so make sure you have something that can cut them. Also bring your buckets to put them in. The flower are free so everyone is welcome to cut whatever they want. They are grown specifically for people to enjoy them
Along the trail, there are usually other things set up–some people even set up “selfie stations” in their front yards…STOP and enjoy. Thats why they do it!!
So you may not care about how silly you look in your boots and wet cold rag on your head but you will probably care about how you gonna be smelling 🙂 BRING A “HYGIENE BAG” Include body spray, wet wipes etc.
POLLEN. If you have allergies take your meds before you go. If you cut the flowers and bring them with you, the pollen game will be STRONG..remember, these flowers are coming straight out the fields! Your car will smell the pollen. If you are someone with a bad pollen allergy, you may not want to bring any back or take a lot of precautions.
The Festival itself is great–they is even some little sunflower patches across the street from where the fest is. It s a small country town kind of fest–no rides but they always have great music..great food…LOTS of vendors. Make sure and swing by my booth when you are there!! It is a great little festival! It is very well ran and well organized.
The Fest is just one day. If you want to stay overnight cuz of the distance, Shreveport or Bossier City is probably the closest hotels you can find–I suggest the casino hotels/or the hotels near them It s easier to jump on the road you need to get on from there.