It could be the chill in the early morning air. It could be the desire to spend some time away from the city. It could be the the idea of sweaters and pumpkins and warm cider. Whatever it is, people love autumn and love to usher it in by navigating through corn mazes and tromping through pumpkin patches.
"Anywhere I can go where there's pumpkins, that atmosphere, I just love it, " says Robyn Cole of Exeter Corn Maze in Missouri. Four years ago she and her husband opened their corn maze, which also includes a zip line, pumpkin jump, cow train, inflatables and hay ride.
The work used to be seasonal, Cole says, but it has become year round to keep up with the demand of the people. Before this season ends, her husband will be on the tractor plowing up fields to grow next year's pumpkins.
This corn maze and others in the area won't open for a while yet, but make plans now to visit one. Most are open only on the weekends.
Farmland Adventures
OPENING DAY -- Sept. 11
HOURS -- 3-9:30 p.m. Thursday (October only), 1-9:30 p.m. Friday, 9 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Saturday. Through Nov. 7
WHERE -- 5355 Parsons Road in Springdale
ACTIVITIES -- Corn maze, pedal carts, pony rides, petting farm, pig races, wagon rides, pumpkin patch
COST -- $8-$10
INFO -- 799-5033, farmlandadventures.com
Ozark Corn Maze
OPENING DAY -- Sept. 18
HOURS -- 5-10 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturday, 1-6 p.m. Sunday. Through Nov. 1
WHERE -- 12880 Arkansas 112 in Cave Springs
ACTIVITIES -- Corn maze, corn cannon, pumpkin sling shot, animal train, petting zoo, pumpkin patch, play area, pony rides, wagon rides
COST -- $9
INFO -- 644-1036, ozarkcornmaze.com
Exeter Corn Maze
OPENING DAY -- Sept. 19
HOURS -- 5-10 p.m. Friday, 1-10 p.m. Saturday, 1-6 p.m. Sunday. By appointment only Wednesday and Thursday. Through Nov. 1.
WHERE -- 4 miles south of Exeter, Mo., on Missouri MM
ACTIVITIES -- Corn maze, zip line, pumpkin jump, cow train, inflatables, hay ride, pumpkin barn, slide, rope swings, pedal cart track, corn cannon, pumpkin cannon, Harvest of Terror, Haunted Barn, zombie paintball ride
COST -- $2-$20
INFO -- 417-846-3959, exetercornmaze.com
Right Choices Corn Maze
OPENING DAY -- Sept. 19
HOURS -- 10 a.m-8 p.m. Saturday, noon-8 p.m. Sunday. Through Nov. 1.
WHERE -- 1161 Manning Road in Southwest City, Mo.
ACTIVITIES -- Corn maze, hay ride, cow train, corn jump, corn cannon
COST -- $2-$20
INFO -- 417-762-3695, rightchoicescornmaze.com
To have your corn maze, pumpkin patch or other fall or Halloween related events listed, email kbarnett@nwadg.com.
-- Kelly Barnett
kbarnett@nwadg.com
NAN What's Up on 08/28/2015