Canada: Western Edge, Best Corn Mazes and Fall Festivals for Families. From Alberta to BC it’s time to celebrate the season. 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; walk on a cranberry bog. The season has family fun written all over it. Forget the lawn; the laundry will wait. Take the kids and go.

Alberta: Lacombe, Kraay Family Farm Corn Maze. Kraay Family Farm has begun to truly define what a family farm is, and can be. This year the Kraay Family Farm offers visiting families a 15-acre corn maze and over 20 activities for families. Activities include mini golf, gemstone mining, a giant jumping pillow, pig races, a petting zoo, barrel train rides, a little "trike track," a pedel cart track, a "cornbox," a maze designed specifically for the littlest members of the family, numerous photo opportunities, a hay jump, tether ball courts, and a horse carousel. Bonus Points: Giant-sized versions of popular games, including tic-tac-toe, chess and checkers, as well as super-sized slides. The Spider Web, a giant web which guests can jump, climb and roll all over. Other fun additions to the farm include a corn cannon and pumpin blaster, fire pits and loads of picnic sites. When? The Kraay Family Farm is open from mid-July through the middle part of October. (Kraay Family Farm. Site 6, Rural Road 1, Lacombe, ALberta T4L 2N1. (403) 302-1709 or kraayfamilyfarm.com)

British Columbia: Pitt Meadows, Hopcott Farms. Each autumn Hopcott Farms is home to one of the largest corn mazes in the Pacific Northwest. The unique interactive mazes within the 17-acre field of corn are created using GPS to mapping making them challenging pieces of agri-art.  Highlights include the famous Lions "Goat" Bridge and the Bee Observatory plus creamiest ice cream and homemade fudge in BC. Enjoy a hayride with educating audio. Taste luscious food products, jams, jellies and preserves. Children age three and younger will be admitted for free but must be accompanied by an adult in all attractions. Bonus points: October 8th is Cranberry Day with entertainment, cranberry product tastings and tour of the cranberry bog. Try your hand at booming cranberries in the free standing, water-filled cranberry bog exhibit. When? The corn maze is open from the beginning of September through mid-October. (Hopcott Farms 13672 Reichenbach Rd. Pitt Meadows, British Columbia V3Y 1Z1. (604) 460-0603 www.meadowsmaze.com)

British Columbia: Chilliwack, Chilliwack Corn Maze. The Chilliwack Cornfield Maze takes over half of the 20-acre Chilliwack Farm every fall, and includes a massive indoor hay-bale maze and a hay jump, as well a corn (sand) box, fun pedal carts, a tricycle maze for the littlest members of the family, a pumpkin patch and a farm animal petting zoo. On the weekends there are hay rides and miniature train rides as well. Bonus Point: Families looking to pick apples should head out to the Chilliwack Farm by mid-September. Make sure to check out the barn owl and corn harvesting display. Discovery: The Pumpkin Patch features over 10 varieties of pumpkin and gourds. New this year is a giant jumping pillow and climbable spider web. When? The Chilliwack Cornfield Maze is open from the end of August through Halloween. (41905 Yale Road West, Chilliwack, British Columbia V2P 4J4. (604) 819-6203 or www.chilliwackcornmaze.com)

Alberta: Calgary, Calgary Corn Maze, Petting Zoo & Pumpkin Patch. The Calgary Corn Maze is a great place for family agri-fun. Families are invited to navigate through the giant corn labyrinths, mingle with friendly barnyard animals, bounce on giant jumping pillows, ride the cow train, zoom around in peddle cars, take aim with the corn cannons and pick their own pumpkins. Bonus Points: Around Halloween, families can check out the Field of Screams, a spooky take on the annual corn maze. Flashlight nights are an extremely popular activity as guests love getting lost in the dark. Families should bring their flashlights and sense of direction...they’ll need both. When? The Calgary Corn Maze, Petting Zoo & Pumpkin Patch opens at the end of July and stay open until mid-October. (Calgary Corn Maze, 284022 Township Road 224, Rockyview, Alberta T1X 0J6. (403) 690-CORN or www.calgarycornmaze.com)

 

Please tell mom! We want to expand the list and need your help. If you have a favorite fall festival 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 include family-friendly winter celebrations and enchanting Santa Trains. We are building the list right now and would love to have your feedback. So just "Tell Mom!"

Information compiled from our extensive database as of August 2012. Sometimes things change, so please confirm details before making plans. Copyright 2012.