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USA: Southwest, Best Corn Mazes and Fall Festivals for Families 2009. 432TXDewberryHayRideFrom country traditions in Texas and New Mexico to luscious apples in Arizona the season is in full swing. Corny or not mazes are made for families and mean fun. Sometimes with a pumpkin patch and sometimes haunted on weekend nights, mazes provide unique signatures as the lunar calendar ends the calendar year. Taste sweet apple butter or corncob jelly; carve a pumpkin or stuff a scarecrow; play flashlight tag or chase the kids through the corn stalks; ride on a wagon full of hay or bob for apples, the season looks promising.

Texas: Brookshire, Texas Maze at Dewberry Farm (09/26/2009–11/15/2009). Dewberry Farm shares its love of seasonal corn mazes with a series of family friendly events including duck races, goat walks, pumpkin picking, pumpkin carving, a barrel train, hay rides, a sunflower patch and corn cannons. Toast marshmallows, yodel a cowboy tune or play your harmonica. On Saturday nights take a hayride through Pumpkin Hollow to see carved pumpkins glowing in the twilight. See the Dewberry Farm honey bees at work. Learn about their honey making process and how pollination plays an important role in farming. Bonus points: Do the MAiZE on a Saturday nights and feel how eerie corn stalks can be. Need to know: The 2008 corn maze pays tribute to the upcoming presidential election, the ultimate politicsl "corntest." (Seven miles north of Brookshire on FM 362. Toll-free 1-866-908 -FARM (3276), 1 (281) 934-3276 or www.texasmaze.com)

Texas: Houston, 42nd Annual Original Greek Festival (10/1/2009 – 10/4/2009). Be Greek for a day at the annual Greek Festival in Houston, Texas. Highlights of the festival include cathedral tours, displays of religious icons/artifacts, Greek folk dancing and delicious Greek specialties prepared from recipes handed down generation to generation for more than a century. Attendees can also purchase Greek food to take home at the Agora Greek Food Store and buy videos, CDs, and tapes of Greek music, dancing and culture to help keep the “OPA!” spirit alive all year long. Bonus points: This year the festival grounds several activities specifically for children have grown in number and include an Athenian playground and the Annunciation Orthodox School Exhibit. (Annunciation Greek Orthodox Cathedral complex, 3511 Yoakum Boulevard, Houston. 1 (713) 526-5377 or www.greekfestival.org)

Texas: San Antonio, Devine Acre
s Pumpkin Extravaganza (10/03/2009–10/31/2009). Located outside of San Antonio, Devine Acres is the host of an annual Pumpkin Extravaganza featuring scenic hayrides, catch-n-release fishing, a barrel train ride, duck races, hay bale & rope mazes, scarecrow dressing, a petting zoo and many more Autumn-appropriate activities. Also on-site is a new mining sluice next to the old watering hole which invites visitors to go gemstone mining and maybe even take home a new treasure. (944 FM 2200 West, Devine 78016. 1(830) 665-9730 or www.devineacres.com)

Oklahoma: Gore, 40th Annual Fin & Feather Fall Festival (09/25/2009–09/27/2009). Each September, Fin & Feather Resort hosts the annual Fall Festival, one of the most popular arts and crafts shows in the state. In 2007, thousands of attendees flocked to see the more than 200 exhibitors during the three day festival. In addition to the multitude of arts and crafts vendors, families will enjoy the Fall-themed food and fun. (Route 1 - Fin and Feather Resort is located approximately 8 miles north of Gore on Highway 100 on the right hand side of the road. 1(918) 487-5148 or www.finandfeatherresort.com/fallfestival.html)

New Mexico: Las Cruces, Ghosts of the Past (10/22/2009-10/24/2009) Take an evening stroll around the Ranch Heritage Museum and meet a ghost or two. During this annual living history event visitors are taken on a guided tour of the museum where they will encounter various characters from New Mexico’s past. This special three-night event also includes music, refreshments and children's activities. Bonus points: The 47-acre museum contains real stories about real people. The interactive museum, which has welcomed visitors from all over the world, brings to life the 3,000-year history of farming and ranching in New Mexico. (Ranch Heritage Museum, 4100 Dripping Springs Road, Las Cruces. www.frhm.org)

New Mexico: Santa Fe, Harvest Festival (10/03/2009–10/04/2009). This very popular community event features harvest activities including crushing grapes for wine by foot; listen to music and enjoy dancing, grinding sorghum with burros and stringing colorful chile ristras. Visitors can buy traditional crafts from artists, try dipping candles, see soap making and taste warm bread and bizcochitos from the horno. (334 Los Pinos Road, Santa Fe, 87507. (505) 471-2261 or www.golondrinas.org)

Arizona: Wilcox, Apple Annie’s Fall Pumpkin Celebration (09/26/2009–10/31/2009). You’ll find Apple Annie’s in the Sulphur Springs Valley of southeastern Arizona. The 4300’ elevation means warm days and cool nights a situation which is ideal for fruit and vegetable growing. The Orchard is known for tree-ripened apples, peaches, pears and Asian pears as well as farm-fresh vegetables, including sweet corn, tomatoes, squash, chilies and pumpkins. During their annual fall celebration enjoy old-fashioned family fun picking your own pumpkins, fall vegetables. Taste freshly pressed apple cider and pick-your-own apples. Pumpkins of all sizes are ready for adoption from their huge pumpkin patch. For a small fee enjoy a hayride to the pumpkin patch and children's play area (Children 2 and younger are free.) Need to know: Don't forget to bring a jacket because fall days can be comfortably cool in Willcox. Bonus Points: Don’t miss Arizona’s newest and largest corn maze. There are three levels of difficulty so it is perfect for the whole family! (6405 W. Williams Road, Willcox, 85643. 1 (520) 384-2084 or www.appleannies.com)
Please tell mom!
We want to expand the list and need your help. If you have a favorite fall festivial or know of an awesome corn maze please "Tell Mom" and we will add it to the list. Make sure to include the name of the festival or event and its location on the planet as well as why you like it or what makes it worth the trip. Our next round up will inlcude  family friendly winter holidays and celebrations. We are building the list right now and would love to have your feedback. So just "Tell Mom!"
 
For fun, kid-friendly Brookshire Hotels for Family Vacations and elsewhere in the Southwest check out Uptake.com. They search 5000 travel sites...so you don't have to!

Information compiled from FTF extensive database as of August 2009. Images provuded by respective venues. Dewberry Farm, Apple Annie's and Houston Greek Festival. Sometimes things change, so please confirm details before making plans.
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