(credit: Forneris Farms)
Looking for a corn maze in the Southland doesn’t always lead to a dead end. These five farms, all within an hour and a half drive from Orange County, promise to provide an a-maze-ingly fun time navigating through their corn mazes. There is fun to be had by kids of all ages, including some spooky transformations after dark for the older kids and adults. The corn mazes provided by these farms are part of their annual fall harvest festivals, so in addition to the corn mazes, there will be many other farm-related activities to enjoy for a full day of fall fun.
(credit: Big Horse Corn Maze)
Big Horse Corn Maze
33320 Temecula Parkway
Temecula, CA 92592
(951) 389-4621
www.bighorsecornmaze.com
In addition to over a dozen seasonal activities offered at the Big Horse Pumpkin Festival, the Big Horse Corn Maze is the biggest corn maze in Southern California. Located about an hour southeast of Orange County, just off the 15 Freeway in Temecula, the Big Horse Corn Maze is a must-visit family attraction this fall – there is even a Mini-Maze for the smaller kids. Children ages three and under are free, and general admission is only $9 for adults and children four and older. A children’s package is also available for $15, which includes admission to the maze and a choice of three additional activities, including pumpkin bowling, a corn cannon, face painting and much more.
(credit: Melissa Prado)
Forneris Farms
15200 Rinaldi St.
Mission Hills, CA 91345
(818) 730-7709
www.fornerisfarms.com
Set just an hour north of Orange County, right off the 5 Freeway, Forneris Farms provides fantastic family fun this fall Navigating through the four-acre maze is bushels of fun as visitors get a chance to solve riddles as they wind their way through the twists, turns and dead ends. Solve all 10 riddles and earn a chance to win the Corny Grand Prize! Admission is just $8 for guests four and older, and for kids three and under it’s free. Plan for about an hour to complete the maze, and be sure to allot some time for other festival activities like the tractor-pulled train ride and a stroll through the pumpkin patch.
(credit: Peltzer Farms)
Peltzer Farms
39925 Calle Contento
Temecula, CA 92591
(951) 695-1115
www.peltzerfarms.com
Just an hour southeast of Orange County in Temecula lies Peltzer Farms and its 10-foot-tall, one-acre corn maze. While not designed to be spooky, the maze is open a little after dark, so bring a flashlight and bring the little ones a bit earlier in the day. The best part about this corn maze is the price – free! Kids of all ages can enjoy the corn maze and pig races at no cost and enjoy other attractions such as the Peltzer Mining Company, pony rides, railroad ride and petting farm for nominal fees. For guests seeking a fun-filled family day this fall, look no further than Peltzer Farms in Temecula.
(credit: Joe Raedle/Newsmakers)
Underwood Family Farms
3370 Sunset Valley Road
Moorpark, CA 93021
(805) 529-3690
www.underwoodfamilyfarms.com
An hour and a half northwest of Orange County sits Underwood Family Farms, whose family-friendly corn maze is perfect for the kids and fun for adults, too. Access to the corn maze is free with the $15 paid admission to the Fall Harvest Festival, and plenty of additional activities are also included with this price, like Farmer Craig’s Chicken Show, pig races, hay bale spiders and more. Other activities like pumpkin pitching or building your own scarecrow can be enjoyed by purchasing tickets inside the festival. Visitors to Underwood Farms can expect an a-maze-ing day of fun on the farm.
(Photo courtesy Pierce College Halloween Harvest Festival)
Pierce College Halloween Harvest Festival
20800 Victory Blvd.
Woodland Hills, CA 91367
(818) 999-6300
www.halloweenharvestfestival.com
The great thing about the Pierce College corn maze is that during the day, it is a fun, kid-friendly family activity, and after dark, it takes on a spooky aspect, and keeps the older wary wanderers on their toes, expecting to be scared senseless just around the next corner. In addition to its famous corn maze, which provides corn meal for thousands of migrating Canadian geese every year, the festival offers a long list of additional kid-friendly activities, as well as events designed for more mature (and fearless) guests. These include a giant slide, hay rides and bumper boats for kids, and the Creatures Of The Corn haunted trail after dark. The Pierce College Halloween Harvest Festival is a sure thing for a good time this fall.
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