5 great corn mazes to check out in and around RI, with s'mores, trivia and spooky fun
People of a certain age might recall what Stephen King did with a simple cornfield, but each fallmany of them, and others, still turn to them for entertainment in the form of dizzying mazes.
Once the corn is harvested, farmers carve often elaborate labyrinths into the neatly planted rows. Maybe you’ll find snacks at one turn or a leering ghoul at a misguided dead end. Either way, corn mazes have become a great source of fun for all ages and skill levels.
Check out one or more of these local corn mazes, which have different twists for different tastes:
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Scares at every turn in Cranston
Scary Acres at Confreda Greenhouses & Farms in Hope combines the challenge of finding your way through a maze in the dark, with the frights lurking around each corner. If ghosts and monsters aren’t your thing — their tagline is “Fear Lives Here!” — the maze is also open during the day for a family-friendly trip through. Tickets must be purchased online at scaryacresri.com.
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Details: Confreda Farms, 2150 Scituate Ave., Cranston, scaryacresri.com. (401) 823-3327
S’mores and much more in South Kingstown
Clark Farms in South Kingstown invites meanderers of all ages into their corn maze on Saturday nights for flashlight trips, complete with make-your-own s’mores stops. This year’s theme is "Alice in Wonderland." The maze is also open during the day the rest of the week, and other adventures include corn cannons, a petting zoo and a mountain slide.
Details: Clark Farms, 2984 Commodore Perry Highway, South Kingstown, clarkfarms.com. (401) 783-8844
'Tree of Life' maze in nearby Connecticut
Just over the border in Thompson, Connecticut, the Fort Hill Farms corn maze pays homage to renowned 19th-century landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted. The 7-acre “Tree of Life” maze capitalizes on the serenity of the farm. Plan about 90 minutes to get through the twisting rows. There’s also a mini maze for young children and people with disabilities, and flashlight nights are planned this season.
Details: Fort Hill Farms, 260 Quaddick Road, Thompson, Connecticut, forthillfarms.com, (860) 234-1153
Try some corny trivia in Foster
Spend hours at Cucumber Hill Farm in Foster wandering through the corn maze and answering the trivia questions peppered throughout, then take a ride on a pony or hay wagon, or try your hand at ax throwing. The theme, so you can prepare your trivia answers, is “Wonders of the World.” The farm is open weekends through October.
Details: Cucumber Hill Farm, 39 Cucumber Road, Foster, cucumberhillfarm.com, (401) 397-7500
A "Field of Dreams" in Portsmouth
Taking its theme from the cornfield movie that’s not scary, Escobar Farm in Portsmouth invites all ages to their annual creation. This year's spells out health, love, success, happy and faith in five connected quadrants. They’ve also got hayrides and a Halloween costume party planned for Oct. 29.
Details: Escobar Farm, 255 Middle Rd., Portsmouth, escobarfarm.com, (401) 683-1444
This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: 5 corn mazes in Rhode Island and Connecticut to visit in October
