Tucked in the Ozark Mountain foothills, the annual Wye Mountain Daffodil Festival bloomed into action March 4-10.

The festival, created by members of the Wye Methodist Church, Wye Extension Homemakers Club and Wye Community Club, has been hosted since 1978.

“The first year of the festival, as it much is now, began in 1978. The first year’s visitors were invited to view the field and pick some daffodils for a donation. Thousands of visitors came the very first day and every single flower was picked, not a daffodil left standing. Well, then the next day, visitors were very upset to have traveled to the mountain to find the field barren. Therefore the church members decided to make the festival the first two weeks of March and allow picking of the daffodils only on the last two days of the festival,” said Bobby Younger, a member of the Wye Mountain Community Church.

The festival was filled with flowers, live music, food trucks, and vendors.

“The food choices around the festival were amazing also, especially the funnel cakes,” UCA alum April Bevis said.

Bevis especially appreciated being able to visit the church and pastor’s cottage on the grounds.

“The flowers were absolutely amazing. I had no idea there were so many kinds of daffodils.  But I think my favorite part was walking around the church and seeing the Pastor’s Cottage. They reminded me of going to my grandma’s church when I was a child,” she said.

Hosting the festival requires work year-round, with maintenance beginning in the summer. 

“The daffodils bloom from March through April. Field maintenance begins in summer with bush hogging and, at times, fertilizing. In the fall, thick patches of flowers that need thinning are plowed up and gathered by volunteers to dry over winter and then packed in net bags for which visitors in March can purchase. Also in the fall is when we plant some new hybrid varieties to fill in bare areas of the flower field,” Younger said.

Vendors set up throughout the grounds with booths including pottery, art, quilts and wreaths. The presence of vendors is an integral tradition of the festival, dating back to the first one.

“Vendors began with local crafters and have grown over the years to today including food trucks, artists and crafters from across the state. At times there may be musicians to entertain,” Younger said.

Bevis said, “It was my first time attending the festival. A friend of mine and I were looking for something to do. We both enjoy being outside, especially in the spring, so we decided to come see the pretty flowers. I am very glad we decided to come. There was a lot to do and see.”

Younger said the most rewarding part of being involved was seeing the guests enjoy themselves.

“The most rewarding part each year is to see the smiling faces and joy of all the visitors, both new and repeat visitors for which some have been coming since they were a child and now bringing their kids and even grandkids to view the blooming field and take pictures,” he said.