Anderson Farms (Erie)
U-pick sunflowers in August and a pumpkin-patch fall festival on a farm family-owned since 1911.
About Anderson Farms
Anderson Farms is a family-run farm near Erie, northeast of Boulder, that opens to the public for two seasons a year. In August, select weekends bring u-pick sunflower fields, and from late September through Halloween the farm hosts a fall festival with a corn maze and pumpkin patch.
The farm says it has been family-owned since 1911, and it's one of the Front Range's best-known autumn traditions. For photographers, the draw is the color: rows of sunflowers in late summer, then orange pumpkins and golden cornstalks in fall, with open sky in every direction.
Tickets are sold online, and the farm is closed to the public outside its event seasons, so check dates before you go.
Colorado's largest fall agritourism destination, with a 30-acre corn maze, pumpkin patch, and a sunflower field that opens for U-pick from mid-July through mid-August. The sunflower field specifically is worth timing carefully — full, fresh bloom lasts only a couple of weeks, and a scarecrow or two scattered through the rows gives you a genuine subject beyond just the flowers themselves.
History
According to the farm, Anderson Farms has been family-owned since 1911. Over the years it has grown into an agritourism destination centered on its fall festival, corn maze and pumpkin patch, later adding a late-summer u-pick sunflower season.
Photographing Anderson Farms
Best light: The last hour before closing on a clear day gives warm, low light behind the sunflowers and across the pumpkin fields. Sunflowers face the morning sun, so plan your angles around which way the heads are turned.
Shots to look for
- Backlit sunflower heads at golden hour with a shallow-depth-of-field portrait lens
- A low angle through the sunflower rows toward the open sky
- Pumpkins scattered across the patch with a wide lens for scale
- Corn maze paths as leading lines in late afternoon light
Photo tips
- Buy tickets online ahead of time, especially for weekends
- The sunflower field closes if lightning is detected within 10 miles, so watch the weather
- Contact the farm before planning paid portrait sessions
- Weekday visits are quieter for clean frames
Know before you go
- The farm is open to the public only during its seasonal events
- Tickets are sold online at the farm's website; check current hours and prices
- Fields are cleared when lightning is nearby
Prints from Anderson Farms
Every photo is available as a print on metal, canvas, wood or fine art paper.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Anderson Farms fall festival?
In 2026 it runs September 23 through October 31. Check the farm's website for hours and tickets.
When can you pick sunflowers at Anderson Farms?
On select Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays in August; in 2026 the season ran August 1-23.
Combine it with
Golden Ponds · Arvada · Keenesburg (Wild Animal Sanctuary) · Rocky Mountain Arsenal NWR, Commerce City
More Colorado spots
Sources & further reading: andersonfarms.com. Conditions, fees and rules change; check with the managing agency before you go.