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This weekend is delivering some quintessential, crisp fall weather. If it puts you in the mood for seasonal New England traditions like pumpkin patches and apple picking, here’s our suggestion: Get lost.
…in a corn maze, that is.
Yes, a corn maze can be challenging — maybe even alarmingly so. But the beauty of taking one on at farm is that even if you exit a little discombobulated after weaving through corn for an hour, you can soothe your nerves with some warm cider or some fresh farm goodies. (When have you ever seen that in a horror movie?)
Below, you’ll find six corn mazes in Massachusetts filled with twists, turns and even some games. Happy navigating!
Mike’s Maze at Warner Farm | 23 S. Main St., Sunderland
Since 2000, the team behind Mike’s Maze in Sunderland painstakingly comes up with a new design — visible from a bird’s-eye view — to carve into the 8-acre cornfield at Warner Farm. This year’s message: “Join the circus.” (Past designs have included tributes to the Mona Lisa, Albert Einstein and the National Park Service.) As you traverse the maze, you’ll notice circus trivia scattered throughout.
- Know before you go: The maze will be open Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through Nov. 3. Friday admission is $12 for adults and $10 for seniors, students, active military and kids aged 5 and older. Weekend admission is $16 and $14, respectively.
Davis Mega Maze | 142 Redstone Hill Rd., Sterling
Looking for a challenge? The corn maze at Davis Farmland prides itself on being extra puzzling, with nearly three miles of pathways within its 8-acre cornfield. Completing it can take anywhere from 30 minutes to three hours, so consider yourself warned.
Inside the Willy Wonka-themed maze, you’ll find games to play at different intervals, like axe throwing, “mini adventure golf” and trivia to keep you entertained as you try to find your way out. They’ve also set up mobile games so you can receive challenges through your phone while you make your way through the maze.
- Know before you go: The Davis Mega Maze is open weekends only through October 27 — though you’ve got an extra day this Monday for Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples’ Day) through October 27. Advance tickets are $22 for kids aged 2 to 12 and $25 for adults. At the gate, they’ll run you $25 and $26, respectively.
Sauchuk’s Corn Maze | 200 Center St., Plympton
For their 17th annual corn maze, the team at Sauchuk’s in Plympton has decided to use their cornfield to show off a little local team spirit. This year’s design celebrates the Boston Bruins’ 100th anniversary, with a massive Bruins’ logo, two hockey sticks and the years “1924 – 2024” offering plenty of nooks in the corn to get lost in.
- Know before you go: The maze is open on weekends through Nov. 3, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Advance tickets are $20 for those over the age of three, and $30 at the gate. These tickets go fast and sell out pretty quickly. (They’re already sold out this holiday weekend.) So you’ll want to purchase well in advance.
Kimball Farm | 79 East Broadway, Haverhill
The Bruins aren’t the only team being honored with a-maze-ing designs. This year’s maze at Kimball Farm in Haverhill celebrates the Boston Celtics’ 18th championship, with a massive leprechaun, shamrock, and “18” carved into the corn. (Check out an aerial video of the maze here.)
- Know before you go: Kimball Farm’s maze is open Fridays from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5p.m. through Nov. 3. Tickets are $15 for adults and $11 for children under the age of 13.
Crescent Farms | 140 Willow Ave, Haverhill
The Crescent Farms corn maze promises twists, traps and dead ends — but don’t worry, the average person can finish this 7.5-acre maze in about 40 minutes, according to the farm’s website.
- Know before you go: The maze is open seven days a week: Sunday to Thursday from noon to 8 p.m., and Friday to Saturday from noon to 9 p.m. through Oct. 31. Admission is $10 for all ages.
Hanson’s Farm | 20 Nixon Rd., Framingham
Last but not least, a smaller-scale corn maze experience great for younger children. Hanson’s Farm corn maze is 4.5 acres, about half the size of some of the larger mazes on the list. Your ticket also includes a hayride and entry to the pumpkin patch.
- Know before you go: The maze is open seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (5:30 p.m. on Sundays) through the end of October Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for kids aged 6 to 12 and free for kids 5 and under.
P.S. — Wondering how farms create such elaborate and complex design with their corn fields? Go behind the scenes at several farms — including Warner Farm in Sunderland — to see how GPS-equipped mowers and math help get the job done.
This article was originally published on WBUR.org.
