September 19th 2026 Open Barn Day

Name: September 19th 2026 Open Barn Day
Start: 2026-09-19T13:00:00-04:00
End: 2026-09-19T15:00:00-04:00
Location: 16730 MARTIN WELCH RD, Marysville, OH, United States, Ohio 43040

Schedule

Sat Sep 19 2026 at 01:00 pm to 03:00 pm

UTC-04:00

Location

16730 MARTIN WELCH RD, Marysville, OH, United States, Ohio 43040 | Marysville, OH

Open Barn Days are group tours where we open the Sanctuary to the public, allowing you to visit and get to know the animals on a personal level. Admission prices are Adult (18+) Admission $10, Youth (4-17) Admission $5, and Children 3 and under are free. All funds raised go directly toward caring for the approximately 140 precious souls that call Sunrise home. We are a volunteer run vegan Sanctuary and the funds raised are crucial to providing vet care, feed, and housing. We do limit attendance at these events to help ensure a safe and enjoyable interaction with the animal family. Because of this, we do require that tickets be purchased in advance.
Before you come to the farm, please review some helpful tips below about what you can expect.
We are so excited to welcome you and want you to have a safe and enjoyable visit. We are a non-profit farm animal sanctuary, and our top priority is the care and comfort of our animal family. As many of our animals free range the property, you will be interacting directly with them, and most are very social, but if anyone does not want to be petted, he or she will walk away. Our animal family is generally social and we are not surprise to find many of them engaging visitors and begging for attention. Others are more reserved and prefer their private space with no interaction. There are many volunteers located throughout the property on these days and are available for questions and to help ensure our babies that prefer their private space are not disturbed. Respect for their space and security is extremely important. Many of these animals come from bad situations and loud noises or fast movements can be scary to them. If you have younger children with you, please ensure they are gentle with the animals, do not run anywhere on the grounds, are too loud, or approach animals too quickly.
We hope this message is helpful to you. Please note, if you register for other people, please share this information with them as well.
We ask that you continue to be respectful of others' space in the registration line and in all areas of the farm.
We hold these events rain or shine, and only cancel for severe weather. Note, we don't allow umbrellas because they can be scary to some of the animals.
You will want to wear closed-toe shoes and attire you don't mind getting dirty. Boots are definitely a good idea.
When you arrive, park where you can and proceed to the registration table to sign in. The gate opens at 1:00, but you do not have to arrive by 1:00.
This is a self-guided tour through the grounds, and you are welcome to pet and love on our animal family. If anyone is not in the mood for attention, he or she will simply walk away and let you know. Don't worry, there are plenty of others who will love your attention.
The Sanctuary is split up into a few areas. When you go through the main gate, you will meet some farm pigs a couple of potbellied pigs, birds and cats. Through the main back gate, you will find our horses, sheep, goats, cows, and more pigs. There is a separate area where you will find Lily and Danica, an area for the Durocs and Benjamin, an area for our horses, goats, sheep and Willie the donkey, and a separate area for our 4 lovable steers. All gates will be opened and closed by a volunteer.
There are volunteers posted throughout the Sanctuary (in yellow vests) for questions or direction.
We do not allow food or drink (except water) inside the gate. And we do not allow feeding of the animals, it just is not safe with this many people.
Many people ask about bringing donations for the animals and we do have a place for any produce or other donations you bring. Produce is always needed, and top needs include apples, melons, squashes, carrots, lettuce and cucumbers. 🍎🥬🍉
The residence on the property is not part of the tour, that is the private home of our Founder and Executive Director.
You are welcome to take pictures and videos. Some of our babies love the camera!
Do not chase or attempt to herd anyone. Our animal family is friendly and used to people, however, some have come from bad conditions, and you might scare them. We have many senior animals, and it is very important not to stress them.
We have lots of cats at the farm and most are friendly, but generally do not like being held. They all have their claws and can scratch.
Please be mindful of this when interacting with the cats. Also, the birds (ducks, chickens and turkeys) do not like to be pet or held.
Please remind children to use indoor voices and approach the animals slowly. Loud noises and approaching too quickly can frighten the animals.
With large animals, it is important not to stand directly in front or behind them in case they are spooked and run away or kick.
Masks are no longer mandatory in Ohio; however, you are welcome to wear one if you wish.
For your convenience, there is a port-o-pot outside the main gate.
We will have a merchandise table with Sunrise logo apparel that we will be selling to raise funds for the Sanctuary. We accept cash and credit cards for merchandise.
IMPORTANT Information below. Please review carefully before deciding to come to the Sanctuary.
There are inherent risks in coming onto the farm. You are up close and personal with the animals, which carries an element of risk of injury or death from direct contact, there are risks of contracting zoonotic diseases, and the grounds may be unlevel which could cause bodily injury. We are taking precautions to protect our animals, volunteers and guests from the risk of contracting or spreading Avian influenza, or "bird flu (See below for More Information) and ask that you NOT come to the Sanctuary if you have flocks of birds of your own of any size that you maintain. When you are here, we ask that you not come into direct contact with our birds. By coming onto the premises, you agree to assume the risks of being here and not to hold Sunrise Sanctuary, Inc., Mindy Mallett, or anyone affiliated with Sunrise Sanctuary, Inc. responsible for any bodily injuries or property damage you, or anyone for whom you are responsible, may incur.
Be alert. The animals are friendly, but they are animals and they are large. Do not chase or herd them, let them move away from you if they want. Their comfort and security is our top priority and some are secured for their comfort to ensure they do not become stressed during these events. Do not stand directly in front or behind them. Absolutely no food is allowed on the farm. No loud noises or running of any kind will be permitted. Birds may peck and cats may scratch. Please be respectful of the animal family's space. Please secure all valuables and your car appropriately. We are not responsible for damage, lost, or stolen items.
Avian influenza, or "bird flu," is a contagious viral disease of domestic and wild birds. It's a major threat to the poultry industry, animal health, trade, and the economy worldwide. Caused by influenza type A viruses, the disease varies in severity depending on the strain and species affected. Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) strains are deadly to domestic poultry and can wipe out entire flocks within a matter of days. Low pathogenicity avian influenza (LPAI) strains typically cause few or no signs of illness. They occur naturally in wild birds around the world. However, some LPAI strains can become highly pathogenic in poultry. Bird flu rarely infects people, but CAN infect people and other animals. For more informaiton, please visit https://www.aphis.usda.gov/livestoc.../avian/avian-influenza
If you have any concerns about accepting any of these risk, we respectfully ask that you not attend this event. If you feel that you do not fully understand the risks, please email [email protected] with questions.