Find your fall spirit: Pumpkin patches, corn mazes, spooky scares and more

Em Chan, Salem Statesman Journal
Updated ·6 min read

The return of foggy mornings, drizzling rain and pumpkin spiced-everything means fall is in full swing in the Mid-Valley.

If you're looking to immerse yourself in fall activities, here are a few options in the area:

Pumpkin patches, corn mazes, outdoor activities

Bauman's Farm & Garden

People enter the corn maze at Bauman's Farm during their annual activities in 2018.
People enter the corn maze at Bauman's Farm during their annual activities in 2018.

Bauman's harvest festival offers corn mazes, obstacle courses, petting zoo, cidery tours and press demonstrations, a hay ride, children's rides, and play areas. Activities vary depending on the day, check out the website for activities schedule.

When: Open through Oct. 29, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, closed Mondays.

Where: 12989 Howell Prairie Road NE, Gervais.

For more info: Visit Bauman's harvest festival website at baumanshf.com, call 503-792-3524, or visit the Facebook page.

Bose Family Farm

The Bose Family Farm' annual Harvest Festival runs through Oct. 29. The farm offers a pumpkin patch, corn maze hayrides plus harvest decor for purchase. Admission and parking are free, while taking part in the corn maze or hay rides is priced separately.

When: noon-6 p.m. Thursday and Friday; 9 a.m.- 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday

Where: 35765 Cyrus Road NE, Albany.

For more info: Visit the Bose Family Farm website or bose-family-farm.business.site

E.Z. Orchards

Pumpkins available during the Harvest Festival at E.Z. Orchards in Salem.
Pumpkins available during the Harvest Festival at E.Z. Orchards in Salem.

E.Z. Orchards' HarvestFest runs through Oct. 30. Activities include hayrides, a pumpkin patch, petting zoo, face painting, corn maze, and live music on the weekends. Horse rides will be available on some weekends. Pets are not allowed, only service animals.

Admission on weekdays is $4 from 9 a.m. to noon (with no hay ride available) and $6 a person from noon to 6 p.m. (with hayrides available). Weekend admission is $10 per person.

When: 9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday; the hours on Friday, Oct. 13 are from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Where: 5504 Hazelgreen Road NE, Salem.

For more info: Check out the HarvestFest website at ezorchards.com/harvest-festival or call 503-393-1506.

French Prairie Gardens & Family Farm

The French Prairie Gardens' pumpkin patch opens Oct. 7 with fall activities. They will run through the month and include corn maze, obstacle course, hand pump duck races, hamster rollers, bubble station, hayrides, pig racing and more. Activities vary depending on the day, and certain ones will require purchasing additional passes. Tickets are purchasable online and onsite, with onsite tickets $5 more. All tickets are non-refundable. The farm store and farm grounds also will be open. Pumpkins are sold separately.

When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Sunday, closed Mondays.

Where: 17673 French Prairie Road, St. Paul.

For more info: Visit the Pumpkin Patch website at fpgardens.com/pumpkin-patch

Fir Point Farms

The Harvest Festival runs through Oct. 28. with rides and activities including corn maze, wagon hay ride, bounce houses and others are priced separately. Free activities include a corn hole toss and petting zoo. For a full schedule of activities, visit the website. Fresh apple cider, apple cider donuts and more baked goods are also available.

When: 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday; closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

Where: 14601 Arndt Road, Aurora.

For more info: Visit the Harvest Festival website at firpointfarms.com/harvest-festival, email firpoint1982@gmail.com or call 503-678-2455.

Fordyce Farm

Graham Fordyce carries his son, Damien, nearly 2, as they prepare to irrigate the fields at Fordyce Farm on Wednesday, July 13, 2022 in Salem, Ore.
Graham Fordyce carries his son, Damien, nearly 2, as they prepare to irrigate the fields at Fordyce Farm on Wednesday, July 13, 2022 in Salem, Ore.

U-pick pumpkins and other activities at Fordyce Farm run through the end of October. Not all of the activities are available yet, but will be announced as they open. Activities include a hay fort, indoor hay maze, corn maze, playground and u-pick apples. For the full schedule of activities and family night details, check out the website.

The last three Friday and Saturdays of the month, a haunted corn maze will be open from 7-9:30 p.m., weather permitting.

When: 9 a.m. -6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, noon-6 p.m. Sunday.

Where: 7023 Sunnyview Road NE, Salem.

For more info: Visit the farm's website, fordycefarm.com/pumpkin-patch-and-fall-fest, email fordycefarminc@gmail.com or call 503-362-5105.

Heiser Farms

U-pick pumpkins are available at Heiser Farms, plus a range of activities including hay mazes, a corn maze and petting zoo. For the full list and pricing of both weekday and weekend activities, check out the website. Group offers and individual tickets for attractions are available. Dogs are welcome if leashed and well-behaved. Food and drinks are available for purchase.

When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m., weekends

Where: 21425 Grand Island Loop, Dayton.

For more info: Visit the farm's website, heiserfarms.com/pumpkin-home, email john@heiserfarms.com or call 503-868-7512.

Vince Woods Farm

For those looking for something closer to Salem, Vince Woods Farm has u-pick pumpkins and a corn maze. In addition to pumpkins, the farm sells cornstalks, gourds, squash, ornamental corn, wheat and bales of hay.

When:10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily.

Where: 6435 62nd Ave. NE., Salem.

For more info: Visit the farm's website, vincewoodsfarm.com, email vincewoodsfarm@gmail.com or call 503-393-0120.

Spooky scares: haunted houses and more

Milburn's Haunted House

Milburn's Haunted House will open for the season starting Oct. 6 at 7 p.m. with haunted shenanigans including the haunted manor, "The Dark," a moonlit pumpkin patch, photo booth and themed concessions stand. There also is a special family night and zombie night, with additional details available on the website. Group discounts and individual tickets are available, purchasing tickets ahead of time is recommended.

When: 7-11 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 7-10 p.m. Sunday.; open Halloween night from 7 - 10 p.m.

Where: 11503 Broadacres Road, Hubbard.

For more info: Visit the haunted house's website, milburnmanor.com, call 503-830-0865 or email mike@milburnmanor.com.

Nightmare Factory

Volunteers dressed in costume scare people at the Nightmare Factory in September 2022 at Oregon School for the Deaf in Salem. The haunted house is at 999 Locust St. NE.
Volunteers dressed in costume scare people at the Nightmare Factory in September 2022 at Oregon School for the Deaf in Salem. The haunted house is at 999 Locust St. NE.

The Nightmare Factory, run by the Oregon School for the Deaf, is open Friday and Saturdays through October. To get exact dates for when the Nightmare Factory is open, check out the website. Ticket sales open onsite at 6:30 p.m. and doors open at 7 p.m. General admission tickets are $20, speedy tickets (to avoid waiting in line) are $30 per person. To get tickets ahead of time or group rates, call 503-378-3827.

When: Check website for exact dates and times.

Where: 999 Locust St. NE, Salem.

For more info: Visit the Nightmare Factory website, nightmarefactorysalem.my.canva.site, call 503-400-6180, or email ed.roberts@osd.k12.or.us or kivo.lefevre@ods.k12.or.us.

Em Chan covers food and dining at the Statesman Journal. You can reach her at echan@statesmanjournal.com, follow her on Twitter @catchuptoemily or see what she's eating on Instagram @sikfanmai.ah.

This article originally appeared on Salem Statesman Journal: 2023 Fall activities in Mid-Valley: Pumpkin patches, mazes, and more