A post-hurricane chill is in the air and fall attractions in the area are in full swing, from pumpkin patches to fall festivals to haunted mazes.
The following events are open during the weekends of October, with opportunities to pick pumpkins, take fall-themed photos, get lost in a maze, meet animals and more.
Through Oct. 31
Admission Price: Free
Hours:
- Monday-Friday: 2-8 p.m.
- Saturday: 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
- Sunday: noon- 8 p.m.
Location: Alachua Methodist Church, 15710 NW US Highway 441
Alachua Methodist Church hosts its annual pumpkin patch with thousands of green, pink and orange pumpkins for sale along with swan neck gourds, elf houses and more. On Saturdays and Sundays from 2-5 p.m., there are tractor hayrides for children and a Praise Jesus Children’s Corner with story time and songs at the top of each hour.
This event also includes games, family photo opportunities, a tented and fenced area for picnicking and playing and homemade pumpkin bread for sale.
Admission Price:
- Age 13+: $15
- Age 4-12: $12
- Age 0-3: free
Hours:
- Friday: 6-11 p.m.
- Saturday: 11 a.m.-11 p.m.
- Sunday: 2- 6 p.m.
Location: 18005 NW 190th Ave., High Springs
(Off 441 between Alachua and High Springs. Travel north on CR 235A next to Santa Fe High School for approximately 2 miles. Turn left on NW 190th Ave., it will be on your left after 1/2 mile.)
Activities include an interactive game in the maze, a hayride that is haunted at night and photo opportunities. In the kids’ area there is a mini maze, pumpkin bowling, a slide, jump pad, bean bag toss and more. Hollow Oaks boasts that its haunted hayride promotes a spooky atmosphere for a wide audience, without “hardcore or extreme gore, violence, torture, etc.” Children under the age of 12 should be accompanied by an adult while on the hayride.
Admission Price:
- Haunted Maze (age 13+): $20 online, or $22 at the door
- Kids Maze (age 12 and under): $5 online
Hours:
- Friday and Saturdays through Nov. 2 and Thursday, Oct. 31: 8-11 p.m.
Location: Homestead Park, 1050 NE 6th Blvd., Williston
Homestead Haunt includes four unique indoor mazes with a gang of clowns on the loose, and a goal to get out as fast as possible. Between 9:30 p.m. and closing, visitors experience The Maze: Insanity Hour, with an extra challenge: they will be given a headlamp and most of the lights in the house will be off.
Beer and wine bar and food are located onsite. For kids, there is a daytime maze from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. every night the maze is open. There is also cornhole, axe throwing, mini golf and more onsite.
Scary Train at Kirby Family Farm
Admission Price: $20 (advance) or $25 (at the gate, if available)
Hours:
- Fridays and Saturdays: 7- 9 p.m.
Location: Kirby Family Farm, 19630 NE 30th St., Williston
Experience seven full attractions and more at Kirby Farm on weekend nights in October.
This event may not be suitable for small children. The all-inclusive combo pass includes all seven scary main attractions: the Scary Train Ride with Clyde the Conductor, Clown Woods, The Trailer Park, Rat Attack, Hearse Hunt, Danowski’s Dungeon and a surprise haunted attraction.
Admission Price:
- General Admission $5 (online) or $7 (onsite)
- Ages 3 and under: Free
Hours:
- Saturdays and Sundays: 10 a.m.- 7 p.m.
Location: 18716 NE US Highway 301, Waldo
With admission, you can explore the maze, visit the pumpkin patch, get up close with cows and calves, dive into corn cribs, enjoy a game of corn hole and more. There will also be photo ops available. Admission price includes unlimited maze, corn hole and other activities. Pumpkins, concessions, souvenirs additional cost.
Crossroads Farm & Apiary Fall Festival and Corn Maze
Through Nov. 3.
Admission Price:
- Ages 3+: $12
Hours:
- Saturdays: 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
- Sundays: 2 p.m.- 7 p.m.
Location: 3831 NW 156th Ave., Gainesville
Activities include a pumpkin patch, crop maze, bounce pad, hay ride, train ride, flower fields, animals, photo ops and more.
Crossroads is open to pre-scheduled groups Tuesday through Friday and open to the general public on weekends. Homeschool Day is Oct. 23.
Through Nov. 3.
Admission Price:
- Age 3+: $13 (online) or $16 (at the gate)
- Age 2 and under: free
Hours: Saturdays and Sundays: 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Location: 17830 SE 40th St., Morriston
This year the festival includes a U-Pick pumpkin patch, with a variety of pumpkins planted and plenty of photo ops and pumpkins available for purchase. On the final weekend, there will be the annual monster mash.
Regular festival activities include two crop mazes, a petting zoo, goats on the roof, a country store, pig races, sack races, various animal encounters and more.
For additional fees, guests can also enjoy a safari hayride, pumpkin painting, a parakeet encounter, kangaroo holding, sloth photos and gemstone mining.
Branford Farm Stand Fall Harvest
Through Oct. 27
Admission Price:
- Ages 13+: $12
- Ages 3-12: $10
- Ages 2 and under: free
Hours: Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Location: 27687 US-129, Branford
Branford Farm Stand’ has leveled up its seven-acre crop maze this year and added a restored vintage 1940’s Eli Bridge Ferris wheel for an unobstructed view of the farm. Admission includes live music, a pumpkin patch, Ferris wheel, hayride, jump pad, corn pit and more. Churros and pumpkins will be available for purchase with cash or card.
Admission Price:
- General Admission: $14
- Ages 3 and under: free
Hours:
- Fridays: 4 p.m.-7 p.m.
- Saturdays: 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
- Sundays: noon – 7 p.m.
Location: 22480 Highway 441 N, Micanopy
Coon Hollo introduces a new Karson’s Wild West Show, in addition to its classic hayride and “Feed the Cows.” Other activities include a crop maze, pony rides, pig races, sack slide, train ride and more!
Peanut Patch and Corn Maze Halloween Festival
Admission Price:
- General Admission: $20 (cash) or $25 (online)
- Ages 10 and under: $15 (cash) or $20 (online)
Hours:
- Fridays: 5-11 p.m.
- Saturdays: 3-11 p.m.
Location: 8656 SW 75th Street, Gainesville
This event offers activities ranging from a haunted house and a night maze to hayrides, a corn maze, kids play area and more.
Newberry Cornfield Maze at Hodge Farm
Through Oct. 26
Admission Price:
- General Admission: $20 (cash) or $25 (online)
- Ages 10 and under: $15 (cash) or $20 (online)
- Ages 2 and under: free
Hours: Friday and Saturday, 5-11 p.m.
Location: 20015 W Newberry Rd., Newberry
Newberry Cornfield Maze has family-friendly activities such as a corn maze and hayride during the day but becomes haunted at night. There is also a haunted house, kids play area, animals, a cow train, putt-putt golf and more.
General Admission includes entry into the maze and a haunted house ticket, child admission is for maze entry only, haunted house tickets can be purchased separately. Additional costs not included in admission: hayride, mechanical bull, human hamster balls.
Amber Brooke Farms Fall Festival
Through Nov. 3
Admission Price:
- General Admission: $16.24 (online)
- Ages 2 and under: free
Hours: Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.
Location: Amber Brooke Farms, 3250 NE 140th Ave., Williston
Pick pumpkins, get lost in our crop maze, pet animals in a petting zoo, pick flowers in the sunflower and zinnia fields, listen to live music and entertainment and more. Plus, enjoy your favorite of the farm’s year-round activities.