The De Soto Arts Council will be holding their 9th annual Sunflower Arfest at The Barn at Kill Creek Farm on Sept. 25-27. The Sunflower Artfest is a gathering of artists who have come together to display and sell their work.

The festival will also feature a sunflower exhibit in The Barn featuring sunflowers displayed in various media types.

According to De Soto Arts Council President and Chair of the Sunflower Artfest, Linda Lane, there is something for everyone at the festival.

“The collection of fine arts is designed to appeal to a wide audience,” Lane said.

The gathering of artists includes not only local and regional artists, but even some out of state ones.

“We actually have an artist coming in from Omaha, so that’s very exciting,” said Zach Yarbrough, De Soto Arts Council member and sophomore at DHS.

This year the Sunflower Artfest will feature some new attractions including a youth tent.

“We are very excited to be sponsoring a booth for middle school and high school artists in the De Soto school district this year,” Lane said. “Be sure to stop by and see the amazing work these young artists have to display.”

Yarbrough is one of many young artists excited for this opportunity.

“I’ll be entering some of my photography and I’m really excited to just put my work in and see the responses to it,” Yarbrough said.

This year’s Sunflower Artfest will also feature a student PenAir contest. Students will be given a topic to write about. Entries will be judged that day and cash awards and ribbons will be given out as well.

The De Soto Arts Council is very excited for the event this year, especially Lane.

“The Sunflower Artfest is the biggest event of the year for the Arts Council and it’s always a pleasure working with the artists and sharing their excitement as they display and sell their work,” Lane said. “I’m also really excited to see middle school and high school students involved and displaying their work.”