Update, July 18, 2024 The sunflowers at Dorothea Dix Park are past peak bloom. 

What and where are the sunflowers in Raleigh?

Calling all cyclists, runners, outdoor enthusiasts and Instagram addicts—a pop-up tourist destination of gorgeous sunflowers is coming back to Raleigh, N.C.!

First planted by the City of Raleigh's public utilities department in 2010, a beautiful five-acre batch of sunflowers now blooms each year in July at Dorothea Dix Park, where approximately 100,000 seeds were planted in early May.

This attraction is free to visit, seven days a week, from sunrise to sunset—it's estimated that 100,000 people visit the fields each year!

The sunflowers serve a purpose beyond just acting as a fun summer Instagram hot-spot—for a number of years the City of Raleigh would harvest the sunflowers to create thousands of gallons of biodiesel, which was then processed into fuel to run tractors, trailers and farm equipment. Now the flowers are left to be excellent pollinators for birds and other wildlife.

Expected peak bloom time

The sunflowers at Dorothea Dix Park are hitting full bloom this weekend, July 5-7, and will likely stay in viewable condition for approximately two weeks (through mid-July).

Use the 360° photo below, courtesy of our friends at Beaumonde Arts Agency, to immerse yourself in a scene from a previous year.

Need to know

• It's summertime—expect the weather to be hot! Sunscreen, bug repellent and a water bottle are always good ideas.
• Temporary restrooms will be available near sunflower field entrances.
• Accessible indoor bathrooms are expected to be available at the newly opened Dix Park Visitor Center.
• Plenty of free parking is available (see the map below).
• Accessibility information about Dix Park can be found here.
• Early in the morning or late in the evening are the best times to visit.
• You can walk through the sunflower fields on the designated paths.
• The fields are a mix of dirt, grass and some rocks—please wear closed-toe shoes for your safety.
• Pets are ok (on a leash!).
• The sunflowers are for everyone—please don't pick them to take home.
• Click the map below to view full-size.

About Dorothea Dix Park

Dorothea Dix Park, a 308-acre property acquired by the City of Raleigh in 2015, is the largest city park in the City of Oaks. The site blends historic architecture and rich landscapes on the edge of downtown Raleigh (the closest park entrance is about one mile from the Raleigh Convention Center). Named for Dorothea Lynde Dix, an American activist on behalf of people with mental illness, the site spent 150 years as Dorothea Dix Hospital and more recently has been home to the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.

In the future, the City of Raleigh has big plans for a transformative public space—it's been named as "the nation's most exciting park project"—and some projects are well underway (the Greg Poole Jr., All Faiths Chapel opened three years ago; a Visitor Center opened in June 2024; and construction is underway on the 18-acre Gipson Play Plaza, expected to open in 2025). For now, though, massive open fields, tree-lined streets, skyline views and very minimal car traffic make this park an ideal place for all sorts of outdoor activities.

 

 

 

 

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Other upcoming events and festivals in Raleigh, N.C.

• City of Raleigh July 4th Celebration at Dix Park, July 4
• GalaxyCon Raleigh, July 25-28
• Sir Walter Miler, Aug. 2
• Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival, Aug. 2-3
• CaribMask Carnival, Aug. 17
• Packapalooza, Aug. 24
• Lazy Daze Arts and Crafts Festival, Aug. 24-25
• 15th Annual African American Cultural Festival of Raleigh and Wake County, Aug. 31-Sept. 1
• Hopscotch Music Festival, Sept. 5-7
• BugFest, Sept. 14
• IBMA Bluegrass Live! powered by PNC, Sept. 27-28
• N.C. State Fair, Oct. 17-27