In the heart of Northwest Louisiana is the Sunflower Trail and Festival in Gilliam! Visitors can drive past miles and miles of bright and beautiful sunflowers – and are encouraged to pull over for pictures and pick sunflowers to take home! The Sunflower Festival will take place on June 15, 2024, and always delivers the beauty of nature, local artistry, and community spirit that can only be experienced in the charming small towns along the Boom or Bust Byway!
As visitors travel the scenic Boom or Bust byway, they’ll be greeted by fields of sunflowers which offer the perfect backdrop for memorable family photos and the opportunity to handpick these golden flowers.
Once visitors make it through the scenic route to the festival itself in the heart of the town of Gilliam, near Mian Street Café (12807 Main Street, Gilliam), they can delight in the variety of crafts, arts, and other handmade gifts offered at the vendor booths. There will be arts and crafts for children, as well.
Live music fills the air as patrons browse these handmade treasures and get to know what makes each vendor’s offerings unique and significant to Caddo and Bossier Parishes. There will also be TONS of delicious food, jams, drinks, and more from many vendors at the Sunflower Trail and Festival!
Beyond the festival grounds, nearby towns offer their own charming attractions that can’t be missed:
- Dixie, LA: Dixiemaze Farms and Ryan's Farms
- Belcher, LA: The Veterans Memorial
- Lynn Plantation Commissary - 11580 Hwy 3049
While in Gilliam, visitors will be remiss if they don’t stop by the historic Crossroads Museum in the Gilliam Library. Restaurants near the festival in Gilliam are listed below:
- Main Street Restaurant: 12807 Main Street, Gilliam. Enjoy delicious food in one of the old brick store buildings.
- James Country Store Restaurant: 12781 Main St., Gilliam. Sandwiches, cold drinks and snack items.
- D&I Café and Deli: 312 Caddo Street, Belcher, LA 71004. Come sample our local cuisine!
Below is more information on the trail route:
To find LA Hwy 3049 from downtown Shreveport, head north on Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway. As you continue, Clyde Fant Memorial Parkway turns into Grimmett Drive. Once you're on Grimmett Drive, take a right onto LA Hwy 3049 (also known as Dixie Shreveport Road).
Once you're on LA Hwy 3049, look for Old Dixie Gin and Sentell Road. Turn right at this intersection to start your drive along the Sunflower Trail. Follow Sentell Road as it loops around the levee. Eventually, Sentell Road will lead you back to Hwy 3049 near Cornerstone Baptist Church, just north of Dixie.
During your drive, you'll see different types of sunflowers and wildflowers along the trail, especially around the expected full bloom time. Enjoy the beautiful scenery and let yourself be immersed in the small town charm that is Northwest Louisiana!
