With the first hint of fall in the air, it is Corn Maze Season! These popular labyrinths have been growing in popularity over the years and have gone from small, simple puzzles, to elaborate, detailed works of arts, some over thirty acres in size, with miles of trails to cover. The beauty and intricacies are best appreciated from aerial photography, but the fun is on the ground. Of course, the magic isn’t just in figuring out the way through the maze. Corn mazes have come to offer many more features – from haunted houses, haunted trails, petting zoos, train rides, hayrides, pumpkin patches, food fest and more.
In the southern Louisiana area, here are two of the corn mazes with the most to offer:
Cajun Country Corn Maze: located on a large farm in Pine Grove, Louisiana and celebrating their ninth maze season in 2009, offers one of the biggest and best corn mazes in the area. This year’s theme is “Sportsline Friday Nite,” featuring a football player cut into a seven acre spread of corn. The maze opens September 19 and runs through November 29, and has both haunted and non-haunted hours. Each weekend in October, as well as the week prior to Halloween, the second half of the corn maze and a specific trail, will be “haunted.” Haunting begins at dusk/dark. Only pen flashlights and glow sticks are allowed – no lanterns or large flashlights. Season passes are available, and online coupons are available as well.
Additional attractions include:
• Pumpkin Blaster
• Corn Cannons
• Bucking Cow Trains
• Food Festivals – celebrating our Cajun Heritage and Louisiana Culture
• Hayrides
• Bucking Cow Train
For more information, including class field trip details, check out The Maize at Cajun Country Corn at www.cajuncountrycorn.com or by e-mail at [email protected].
Curry Farms, in Start, Louisiana, is a beautiful family farm, belonging to the Bentley family since the 1800’s. Once known primarily for their beautiful Christmas tree farm, Curry Farms is quickly earning a reputation for their fantastic harvest activities. Their corn maze motto: “find your child within or the one you brought!” Other activities include:
• Tree Swings – the old-fashioned kind kids don’t see much anymore
• Two large fish and duck ponds for kids to feed
• Duck Races
• The climbing tree
• Hay Ride
• Caterpillar Choo-Choo
• Hay Slide & Hay Mazes
• Horse-a-Round- tire swing ponies on a carousel -like ride
• Corn Boxes
• Punkin’ Chunkin’
Curry Farms also offers birthday parties and field trips. For more information, directions and pricing, contact www.curryfarms.net.
Fall is one of our Louisiana treasures – a respite from the heat and humidity, a retreat from hurricane season, and another reason to celebrate our food and heritage. Take the time to get out and enjoy some harvest fun – these farms offer a great chance at family fun, outside activity and enjoyment!
