Summer Solstice Lavender Festival

When Kym Prell and her husband, Mike, spotted the 10-acre plot of wooded land along County Road 80 in Martinsville 15 years ago, they knew it would be an ideal place to raise their family, which has included a menagerie of sheep, goats and miniature horses. Prell also saw the 5 acres fronting the property, which had been a cornfield, as a place where her passion could thrive and grow, too.

A reflexologist, Prell uses lavender to therapeutically treat ailments, including anxiety and depression. Mike, who was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy 12 years ago, uses a lavender-infused lotion to generate inner calm.

“Lavender is not easy to grow in our wet Ohio climate,” she says. “But it’s worth it. When the full bloom comes, I call as many people as I can and say, ‘You have to get over here and stand in this field and just kind of breathe before I cut it all down.’ The excitement of how that feels made us want to share that experience with as many people as possible.”

In 2008, the Prells hosted the first Summer Solstice Lavender Festival at their Peaceful Acres Lavender Farm — now an annual tradition that’s always held in June when the lavender is in full bloom. More than 3,000 people are expected to attend the free event June 15 and 16. Visitors can roam the lavender fields and 6 acres of wildflower trails, attend a meditation session and peruse the handcrafted jewelry, tie-dyed clothing and paintings offered by 20 vendors.

Food trucks will sell fare with a lavender twist, ranging from corn-on-the-cob to brisket, and horticulturists will lead workshops in wreath-making and creating fairy gardens.

When she’s not tending her garden, Prell can be found crafting more than 40 products available year-round, including chakra soaps, soy candles, lotions and balms made from the 10 varieties of lavender grown on the farm. All will be for sale at the fest, including her best-sellers: a lotion that eases joint pain, a roll-on balm for headache relief and an all-natural insect repellent.

“We hope our festival helps people check out of everything else that’s going on in their life,” she says.  

2387 Martinsville Rd., Martinsville 45146, 513/322-2415, peacefulacreslavenderfarm.com