Take in Fall Around Lowell

According to the calendar, fall has arrived.  Cooler temps puts people in the mood for activities that come with the season.  Take in a maize maze, pick out a pumpkin or other fall items, or just enjoy the fall weather outdoors.  Here are just a handful of things to do in and around the Lowell community this month.

Heidi’s Farmstand
This year, Heidi’s corn maze pays tribute to first responders.  As with past years, a shorter, easier kid’s maze is available in addition to a more challenging course for older kids and adults.  The kids’ maze take participants through a police car while the larger maze is made up of an ambulance and fire truck. An additional challenge for the large maze is making it to various checkpoints in search for various pieces of equipment used by first responders and an 8 oz cider slushie will be your reward.  Find an additional three locations and solve a mystery in order to receive a 12 oz slushie.

After completing the maze challenge, make sure to save some time to check out produce, baked goods, and cider slushies in the market.  

They are open Monday – Thursday 6:30am – 6pm, Friday 6:30am – 10pm, and Saturday 7am – 10pm.

Olin Farm
In its second year, Olin Farm is once again offering a corn maze and hayride for visitors.  Moses and Solomon, two horses purchased from Budweiser, are also part of the Olin Farm crew.  The gentle giants will enjoy meeting guestsGuests may also see Jack the dog, who is eager to welcome everyone.  Also, take a 30-40 minute hayride while you’re visiting.  It travels through farm fields and woods, showing off different areas of the farm.  

They are open weekends through October 28.  Friday and Saturday hours are 10am-7pm and they are open Sunday 12pm-7pm.  Additional weekday hours are available by appointment for school, church, birthday parties, and more for groups of 10 or more.  

Red Barn Market
The barn maze at Red Barn Market is sure to please.  Indoors, it’s a great place to check out on those October days which are dreary.  A PG and PG-10 version of the maze is available. Children under 8 must be accompanied by an adult for the kid-friendly version.  No one under the age of 10 is allowed in the maze when it’s set up to be a bit more scary for visitors.

The Spooky Barn Maze is set up for the younger crowd.  The barn is dimly lit (lights can be turned on upon request) with low head clearance in some spots.  Various spooky scenes seen as visitors walk through twists and turns. Spooky noises, images, and fog is also used in portions of the maze.  Hours for the spooky version of the maze are Sunday 1:00pm – 8:00pm, Monday – Friday: 3:00pm – 8:00pm, and Saturday 1:00pm – 6:00pm. Admission is $5/person

Older kids and those looking for more of a scare should check out the Haunted Barn Maze.  A larger portion of the barn is open up for the scarier version. There is also the possibility of live actors lurking around corners to scare guests.  Children under age 10 will not be admitted and this version is not recommended for those under the age of 13. The Haunted Barn Maze takes place on Saturdays in October from 6pm – 9pm (open until 10pm on Oct. 27).

After partaking in spooky or haunted fun, check out the farm animals, who love visitors.  Goats, donkeys, sheep, and even an alpaca are some of the furry hosts eager to greet guests.  And of course if you’ve worked up an appetite, the market offers produce and a full menu of items.  And of course there’s also ice cream!

The 4th annual Halloween Carnival will take place on Saturday, October 20 from 1pm – 4pm.  Kids are invited to dress up and partake in a variety of activities including the Spooky Barn Maze, games, crafts, face painting, pumpkin painting and more.  Most activities (there will also be some which are free) will require tickets, which are $1 each, 12 for $10, or 25 for $20.

Dairy Discovery Fall Family Fun
Swisslane Farm is decked out for fall.  During Fall Family Fun Days at the farm, families are invited to explore the farm, help make butter, explore a ‘spooktacular’ straw maze, eat some warm soup, drink some hot cocoa, and even take a pumpkin home to decorate.  Admission is $10/person (with a family rate of purchasing 4 admissions and get one free).

Fall Family Fun dates are Friday, October 26 from 4pm-7pm and Saturday, October 27 from 11am-2pm.  

Boulder Ridge
Park in the Dark at Boulder Ridge invites guests to check out the animal and trick-or-treat at the same time!  Kids can dress up and use a Halloween bag, which is provided. Collect candy, visit with animals, and take the safari ride.  

The two-day event will take place on Saturday, October 20 and Sunday, October 21 from 12pm – 6pm each day.  Admission is $10/person (members receive 50% off admission price). This event is last chance to visit Boulder Ridge until they open again in the spring.  

Harvest Time Pumpkins
If you’re looking to travel not too far from Lowell, check out Harvest Time Pumpkins in Freeport.  They have a host of activities geared toward the younger crowd and has become a destination for mom/kid play dates throughout the week.  Activities include pumpkin bowling, a scavenger hunt/i-spy game, barnyard animals, and more. Pumpkins, squash, gourds, and more are also available for purchase in their store.

Infants are free while kids 2-3 years of age are $3 each, and adult admission is $4/person.  They are open seven days a week 11am-8pm daily through the end of October.