22nd Sunflower Trail and Festival to be held Saturday, June 19, in Gilliam

GILLIAM, La. – The 22nd Annual Sunflower Trail and Festival will take place from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, June 19, at Red River Crossroads Museum, 12797 Main Street in Gilliam. The festival will feature a scenic sunflower trail, sunflower picking, arts and crafts, live entertainment, art exhibits, children’s activities, a Sunflower Photography Contest and more. Admission is free.
 “Last year, the Sunflower Trail and Festival took its first hiatus in over two decades,” said Karen Logan, festival organizer. “I’m happy to bring brighter days to our community this year with our traditional festivities and a 20-mile trail of sunflowers throughout the countryside of Caddo Parish. Welcoming folks from everywhere to eat, explore and experience my hometown in summer glory just feels right.”
 Food vendors will be available during the Sunflower Trail and Festival, and lunch is available at nearby restaurants including Main Street Restaurant, James Country Store and the D&I General Store in Belcher for festival-goers who are seeking dine-in or grab-and-go experiences.
 To drive the sunflower trail, turn right at Old Dixie Gin and Sentell Road and drive the loop around the levee. Sentell Road circles back to Highway 3049 at Cornerstone Baptist Church, just north of Dixie. Sunflowers along the trail are currently in full bloom and expected to last through early July. This scenic drive features a sunflower maze, wildflower fields, zinnia blossoms and historic stops along the route including the Veterans Memorial in Belcher, Crossroad Museum in Gilliam, Northrose Plantation in Dixie and more. Other stops along the trail include:
•    Big Mama’s Antiques and Restorations in Hosston
•    Designs by Carol Quilt Shop in Ida 
•    Dixie Lavender Farm in Shreveport
•    Farmers’ Market in Gilliam
•    Lynn Plantation Commissary in Belcher
•    Old Church House in Hosston
•    Ryan Farms Produce in Dixie
 For more information about the historic stops along the sunflower trail, pick up a Sunflower Trail and Festival brochure from the Downtown Shreveport Visitor Center, located at 629 Spring St. or the Red River Crossroads Museum. 
 The sunflower photography contest has heavy participation each year and offers three contestants a chance to win a cash prize. This year’s photography theme is the sunflowers along the trail. The photo submissions limit two per person and must be 8-by-10-inch dimensions, mounted or with a cardboard backing, and unframed. Photos must be mailed or dropped off at the Red River Crossroads Association by Tuesday, June 15. Photo submissions will be on display at the festival.
 “Sunflowers are vivid and captivating on their own, and that’s why our festival is such a huge draw, especially for photographers,” said Logan. “It’s always fascinating to see the sunflower fields through the eyes of others. The photography contest gives us a new perspective on the flower year after year. “
 The Sunflower Trail and Festival is a presentation of the Red River Crossroads Historical Association, a 501(c)(3) non-profit founded in 1994. For more information on the 22nd Annual Sunflower Trail and Festival, like the Sunflower Trail and Festival on Facebook at www.facebook.com/SunflowerTrail. For more information on the Red River Crossroads Historical Association, visit www.RedRiverCrossroadsHistorical.org or email the association at rrcha@gmail.com.  
For more information about events happening in Shreveport-Bossier, visit www.SBFunGuide.com. For a full list of things to do in rural Caddo and Bossier Parishes, visit www.BoomOrBustByway.com or download the app for a GPS-navigated adventure.