What exactly is the sunflower experience? It's a 2.5 week season in late July/early August that features around 30 different varieties of sunflowers totaling 150,000 blooms in our 7 acre field! There are a lot of special events we have planned in a small period of time. Read below for more information.
What is the Sunflower Experience?
2025 will be our 8th year of planting sunflowers! We plant around 7 acres of beautiful sunflowers for you to walk through and enjoy. We have three special areas in our field: the walking area, the cutting area, and the specialty flower area.
Our walking area is around 6 acres and features "prop stops," 2 viewing platforms and so many opportunities for photos! We have signs directing you to prop stops and viewing platforms throughout our field. These prop stops are little areas cut out off the main path and include items you can use for picture props and backgrounds (examples: old tractors, ladders, rustic fences).
The cutting area is used only for picking out the best sunflowers for cutting to take home with you! At least one flower is included in your admission price (see below). The cutting area features over 10 different varieties of flowers for you to pick out your perfect bouquet from!
Lastly, the specialty flower area is around a quarter acre of around 30 different varieties of sunflowers and is located right at the entrance of the walking field. Enjoy multi-colored flowers, branching flowers, short and tall flowers and flowers with large and small heads! This area is not used for cutting. In 2023 we added a new "pollinator path" that features informational signs about sunflowers with a little fun kids activity at each stop!
When does the field open and how much does it cost?
Our 2025 season will hopefully begin around July 26th and last through August 8th! (100% weather dependent!) Check below for all of our special events happening during that time!
2025 Admission Prices
Every guest age 4 and older must pay admission (3 and under are free). There are three admission levels.
**OUR BIGGEST ADMISSION SALE OF THE SEASON IS HAPPENING NOW THROUGH MAY 31ST!** This sale is ONLY available online. Purchase your discounted admission tickets here.
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Single Flower Experience: $10/child ages 4-12 or $15/adult ages 13+ includes admission to the field, 1 cut sunflower to take home, a choice of donut from our bakery, and 10% off sunflower gifts in our retail barn.
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Bouquet Experience: $18/person includes admission to the field, 6 cut sunflowers to take home, a choice of donut from our bakery, and 10% off sunflower gifts in our retail barn.
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Ultimate Experience: $30/person includes admission to the field, 12 cut sunflowers to take home, a special decorative bucket for your flowers, a choice of donut from our bakery, and 10% off sunflower gifts in our retail barn.
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You do have the option to buy additional flowers to take home for $2/each or $6/6 flowers. We also sell decorated buckets at our admission booth if you'd like to purchase a nice vase for your flowers. Buckets vary in design and price.
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2025 Janesville Sunflower Tour Ticket with Rotary Botanical Gardens
Come experience both flower attractions in Janesville, WI with the same ticket at a discounted price! This ticket can be used at Skelly's Sunflower Experience between the approximate dates of July 26th and August 10th, and at Rotary Botanical Gardens between the dates of June 25th and October 31st.
Rotary Botanical Gardens will have a garden theme of sunflowers this year! In addition to the other thousands of flowers and plants they grow, sunflowers will be the main attraction for their summer season. Spend an afternoon walking through their peaceful gardens, take pictures, and enjoy the outdoors. More information about Rotary Gardens can be found on their website here.
For $18/adult (ages 15+) and $12/child (ages 6-15) (children ages 4-5 are free at Rotary Gardens but will need to purchase a children's ticket at Skelly's for $9), you get admission to both Skelly's Sunflower Experience (only on valid dates) and Rotary Botanical Gardens. Bring your email confirmation to each location for entry. This ticket does not have to be used on the same day. Purchase your ticket here.
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Professional Photography Policy in our Field
We welcome all sorts of professional photographers to our fields! You don't have to rent a certain space in our field. As long as every single person (including you!) pays admission, there is no other fee for photos. Please share some with us via Facebook messenger or Instagram direct messages! If you would like to take pictures around the rest of the farm, you will need to sign a waiver. Photographers are only allowed in our field during business hours. No trespassing in our fields before or after hours.
2025 Special Events Schedule
All special events are subject to change based on bloom period. Tentatively, this is what we have scheduled now:​
**Tentative** Opening Weekend of Sunflower Season
Saturday, July 26th and Sunday, July 27th
-Watch for special deals as these dates draw near! As always, opening weekend relies heavily on what Mother Nature plans for us in our growing season. We promise to keep you up to date! Make sure you sign up for our email list or follow us on social media (@skellysfarmmarket on FB or @skellysfarm on IG)
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Half price children's general admission tickets
Tuesday, July 29th and Tuesday, August 5th
-All general admission tickets for kids ages 4-12 are half price! (Ages 3 and under are free) Discount only available if purchased online. Link will be available after our pre-season sale is concluded June 1st.
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Half price senior's (ages 55+) general admission tickets
Wednesday, July 30th and Wednesday, August 6th
-Any senior aged 55+ can get any general admission ticket half off! Discount only available at the gate.
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Extended Field Hours
Wednesday, July 30th through Wednesday, August 6th
-Enjoy extra hours in the field at golden hour! The field will be open 9am - 8pm.
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Date Night in the Sunflowers
Wednesday, July 30th through Wednesday, August 6th
-Bring your date out to the farm and enjoy an evening of dinner, great conversations, and a stroll through the sunflowers! For $120/couple, you'll receive a picnic basket (to keep!) full of a simple dinner for two from Timber Hill Winery, a plate of locally made cheese and sausage samples, locally made tortilla chips, samples of two flavors of salsas from our store, a coupon for your choice of ice cream dessert from our bakery, a coupon for your choice of beverage from our store, admission to our sunflower field (which includes 12 cut sunflowers!), a coupon for a free wine tasting to be redeemed at Timber Hill Winery in Milton, WI, and a list of fun conversation starters for your date night! These dates book up fast and we limit each night to 22 couples. Book your date night now.
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Professional Photography Sessions with Ali Acker Photography
Wednesday, July 30th 4pm - 8pm
Thursday, July 31st 4pm - 8pm
Tuesday, August 5th 4pm - 8pm
-Spend 20 minutes with Ali, a professional photographer, and let her capture those beautiful family photos you've always wanted at a much lower rate! Evenings are the most popular in the sunflower field and book quickly! Book a 20-minute timeslot for only $30 (plus admission per person). Ali will give each group a link to visit to download pictures when they are complete. Most groups get at least 10 good quality photos! With these longer sessions, you do have the ability to walk around to different prop stops in the field for your photos! Book your session here.
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Professional Photography Sessions with Amylis Photography
Friday, August 1st 4pm - 8pm
Saturday, August 2nd 4pm - 8pm
Monday, August 4th 4pm - 8pm
Wednesday, August 6th 4pm - 8pm
-Spend 20 minutes with Amy, a professional photographer, and let her capture those beautiful family photos you've always wanted at a much lower rate! Evenings are the most popular in the sunflower field and book quickly! Book a 20-minute timeslot for only $30 (plus admission per person). Amy will give each group a link to visit to download pictures when they are complete. Most groups get at least 10 good quality photos! With these longer sessions, you do have the ability to walk around to different prop stops in the field for your photos! Book your session here.
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Professional Photography Sessions with Kryshak Photography
Sunday, August 3rd 4pm - 8pm
-Spend 20 minutes with Kristal, a professional photographer, and let her capture those beautiful family photos you've always wanted at a much lower rate! Evenings are the most popular in the sunflower field and book quickly! Book a 20-minute timeslot for only $30 (plus admission per person). Kristal will give each group a link to visit to download pictures when they are complete. Most groups get at least 10 good quality photos! With these longer sessions, you do have the ability to walk around to different prop stops in the field for your photos! Book your session here.
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Professional Photography Sessions with Retrobee Photography
Saturday, August 2nd 9am - 4pm
Sunday, August 3rd 9am - 4pm
-Spend 20 minutes with Nick, a professional photographer, and let him capture those beautiful family photos you've always wanted at a much lower rate! Book a 20-minute timeslot for only $30 (plus admission per person). Nick will give each group a link to visit to download pictures when they are complete. Most groups get at least 10 good quality photos! With these longer sessions, you do have the ability to walk around to different prop stops in the field for your photos! Book your session here.
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Sunflower Themed Paint 'n Sip Classes
Thursday, July 31st 6pm - 8:30pm
Sunday, August 3rd 1pm - 3:30pm
-This 2-hour class will turn you into a professional painter! Join Tannis from Art-Vark Studios Paint 'n Sip for this special sunflower-themed canvas painting class! For $45/person, you get professional step-by-step instruction on how to paint your canvas, all painting materials, admission to our sunflower field, a coupon for a beverage of your choice (cold brew coffee, lemonade, soda, etc.), and a donut to eat while painting! These classes fill up quickly, so book your spot now.
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***NEW EVENT!*** Mocktails in the Sunflowers with Food Trucks and Music by Steve Weber
Friday, August 1st 5pm - 8pm
-We are VERY excited about this brand new event, featuring "mocktails" (aka non-alcoholic, refreshing drinks), music, and food trucks! This event is open to everyone! For $24/person (ages 4+), you'll be given a wristband to show at each one of our refreshment tables within the sunflower field for a sample of all of our mocktail drinks. It's like a "wine-your-way-out" event, but for everyone! Each ticket also includes 1 full mocktail drink and $2 off per additional drink purchased throughout the evening. To make your evening even more special, relax outside the entrance and listen to music by Steve Weber, and stay for dinner as we will have Eat at Joe's food truck (teriyaki and hibachi), and Happy Times BBQ food truck both serving dinner until 8pm! Purchase your mocktail evening tickets here.
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***NEW EVENT!*** Princesses in the Sunflowers
Sunday, August 3rd 10am - 1pm
-We are SUPER excited to have students from the Parker Arts Academy coming out to our sunflower field in costume as some of your favorite recognizable princesses! Bring your princess-loving child out (costumes definitely encouraged!) and help support Parker Arts Academy! The princess package includes exclusive access to our princess trail in the sunflowers, where kids will get to meet at least 3 different princesses, get a prize from each one of them, get to take their pictures with them, and end the trip with a special treat from our bakery. Our princess trail will include a castle nestled in our sunflower field, bound to make for beautiful pictures! All kids wanting to participate need to purchase a "princess package" with different price levels for ages 0-3 and 4-12. Adults just need to purchase a general admission ticket. Accompanying siblings not wanting to participate would also just need to purchase a children's admission ticket. We will be limiting tickets per half hour time slot to ensure enough time is spent with each princess and the line doesn't get too long. Some time slots might book up quickly! Purchase your princess tickets here.
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3rd Annual Donut Dash for the Humane Society of Southern Wisconsin
Saturday, August 2nd at 8am
-Do you like running? Do you like running so you can eat donuts at the finish line? What about running with your dog, then eating donuts, AND supporting a great local organization? For the 3rd year, we are partnering with the Humane Society of Southern Wisconsin to bring a 5k and 1 mile run/walk to the farm on Saturday, August 2nd starting at 8am. This is a fun, casual race where you can choose to run or walk (dogs definitely encouraged to come!) through our sunflower field, on nearby roads, and around our strawberry beds. All race participants will receive a bib numbers with time tracking (thanks to Velocity Multi-Sport & Cycling), admission to our sunflower field, and an apple cider donut at the finish line. Skelly's will be donating a large portion of each ticket to the Humane Society PLUS $1 from any other admissions for the entire day! If you don't want to race, come to the field and support the HSSW that way! Pricing is dynamic, with our LOWEST PRICE right now at $35 per person! Pricing increases May 1st. T-shirts will also be available for purchase for $20, with 100% of that money going straight to the Humane Society. Purchase your tickets here.
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Butterfly Releases
Saturday, August 2nd at 10am and 1pm
-​Join us for a butterfly release on Saturday, August 2nd at either 10am or 1pm! For $18 per person, your ticket includes admission to our sunflower field and one Painted Lady butterfly to release. Before the release happens, we will hand out butterflies to all participants and you'll get to listen to a short little story from Gary, a retired teacher, who loves educating everyone on butterflies! Additional butterflies are available for purchase for $7 each. Purchase tickets here.
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