Looking for fall fun? Our guide to Central Jersey corn mazes, hayrides, festivals and more

Care for an aMAZEing good time this fall? Autumn is much more than pumpkin spice and everything nice.

As the air gets crisp and cool, many local farms open for fall festivals with apples, gourds and pumpkins galore; hayrides and apple cider; and plenty of pies and homemade jams.

And corn mazes. Some get quite complex.

At Von Thun Farms in South Brunswick, you'll see county music superstar Reba McEntire (much) larger than life.

Forty farms across the country are going country in honor of Reba's upcoming lifestyle book "Not That Fancy: Simple Lessons on Living, Loving, Eating, and Dusting Off Your Boots." There are two phases to the corn maze − one better suited to younger visitors and another for those looking for more of a challenge. There are prizes, games, photo ops and music along the way. To learn more, go to themaize.com/pages/reba.

Along with the Reba-inspired six-plus-acre corn maze, VonThun's also features more than 20 fun fall harvest activities such as apple and pumpkin picking, hayrides, homemade apple cider donuts and a farm market with lots more fresh baked goods, candles and crafts. The fall festivals run on weekends from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. though Oct. 29.

On the last two Fridays and Saturdays in October, VonThun's is hosting Moonlight Corn Maze and Campfires where visitors can navigate their way out of the corn maze by moonlight (flashlights are encouraged), take a hayride around the farm, sit by a toasty campfire and make s’mores.

Go: 519 Ridge Road, South Brunswick; vonthunfarms.com. Admission starts at $18.99 per person and varies according to passes chosen. Kids are free until they're 3.

Here are more corn mazes to explore in Central Jersey:

Etsch Farms, Monroe

"Life of Bees" is the 2023 theme for Etsch Farms’ annual eight-acre corn maze. There is a crossword puzzle game hidden throughout the big maze for an extra challenge and a smaller corn maze as well. A fourth-generation family-owned farm, the activities and refreshments – hayrides, animals, apple cider donuts, slushies and pumpkin picking − are open noon to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 29.

Go: 556 Buckelew Ave., Monroe; etchfarms.com. General admission tickets are $20 and service personnel discounted tickets are $18.

Giamarese Farm and Orchards, East Brunswick

Family-owned Giamarese Farm and Orchards has been a staple in the area for several generations. Fall Harvest Weekends run through the weekend before Halloween, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The eight-acre corn maze is included in the hayride experience, along with a farm tour. There are pony rides, a petting zoo, farmer's market and pick-your-own pumpkins, apples and tomatoes.

Go: 155 Fresh Ponds Road, East Brunswick; giamaresefarm.com; Admission is $5 per person and hayrides are $10 per person (includes farm tour and corn maze.) The activity takes about 60-90 minutes.

Norz Hill Farm and Market, Hillsborough

A family-run farm since 1922, Norz Hill Farm and Market hosts Fall Harvest Days through Oct. 31. The annual event includes a five-acre corn maze featuring farm-related scenes, farm tours with animal visits, a Kids CORNer with a bale maze, The Pumpkin Patch, a farm market and Cafe 120 Food Stand. ScareFarm is open throughout October on Friday, Saturday and some Sunday nights.

Go: 120 S. Branch Road, Hillsborough; norzhillfarm.com; Hayrides, pumpkin picking and farm animal hours are noon to 5 p.m. weekdays with admission of $13 per person and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends with admission of $15 per person. Those under 36 inches tall are free. Admission can be purchased online or at the door.

More: Halloween costumes, decorations and more: What's hot in 2023?

Snyder's Farm, Somerset

With a dinosaur design, the 2023 Snyder's farm corn maze commemorates the 30th anniversary of the "Jurassic Park" movie. The positively prehistoric corn maze joins a plethora of activities including a hay bale maze, pumpkin picking, apple cider, cider donuts, food trucks, big slide, bowling, tunnels, rubber duck race, wooden train and boat, photo op areas, u-pick flowers and u-pick sunflower trail. To get to the festival site, visitors take a tractor-pulled wagon. The fall festival is held from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends and runs through Oct. 29.

Go: 586 S. Middlebush Road, Somerset; snyders-farm.com. Admission is $20 per person and children under 2 are free. Discounts offered for seniors and military (must show ID).

Red Wagon Farm, Monroe

After visiting the corn maze, there are activities such as picking pumpkins, a petting zoo, hayrides, tug-of-war, rock treasure hunt, tractor display, cornhole, pony rides, photo ops and food trucks. Activities are open on Saturdays and Sundays.

GO: 136 Applegarth Road, Monroe; redwagonfarmnj.com; Admission is free; certain activities including corn maze have per person fees.

Schaefer Farms and Farm of Horrors, Flemington

By day, take a scenic hayride through 40 acres of home-grown pumpkins and find your way through the corn maize and hay maze. There are corn cannons to try out and farm animals to feed. By night, the farm becomes the Farm of Horrors with frightful Halloween-themed activities and attractions − Massacre Maize, Hayride of Horror, Trail of Terror and Carnival Chaos − at every turn.

Owned and operated by the Schaefer Family, Schaefer Farms has been a member of the farming community for four generations. The day festivities are open 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. through the last weekend of October. The farm stand will be open 9:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sundays and is filled with the farm's fall harvest as well as country treasures, fall decorations, Indian corn, gourds, kale, corn stalks, straw mums, apple cider, pies, breads, honey, milk, butter, cheese, eggs and candles. The Farm of Horrors 2023 runs every Friday, Saturday and Sunday night through October.

Go: 1051 Route 523, Flemington; schaeferfarms.com; Day prices are $18 per person for credit/debit and $15 cash, children under 8 and veterans ride free. Admission includes access to hayride, corn maize, hay maze, feeding farm animals and parking. At night, experience all four horrifying attractions at Farm of Terror starting from $38.

West Portal Pumpkin Patch, Bethlehem

With 85 acres of country to explore, West Portal Pumpkin Patch offers a relaxing, fun-filled day for all ages. Besides two full corn mazes, there is an indoor hay maze and corn box for children aged 5 and under and an outdoor hay maze for children 6 and up. There are 45-minute hayrides that include pumpkin picking. Hot dogs, snacks and soda also are available. The farm is open 2 to 5 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through Oct. 31.

Go: 274 Asbury West Portal Road, Asbury; westportalpumpkinpatch.com; prices vary for activities.

Everitt Farms, Ringoes

A working family farm since 1888, Everitt Farms continues the tradition of farming while incorporating agritourism through their corn maze. Refreshments, a six-acre pumpkin patch, kids activities, music, games, fall décor and more are on site. The fall fun runs Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. through Oct. 29.

Go: 34 Toad Lane, Ringoes; www.everittfarm.com; Admission via onsite parking is $8 per person; visit www.FlemingtonTrain.com for details and pricing on "Pumpkin Train" tickets.

Linwood Fields, Monroe

This year is the first time you will be able to pick your own veggies in addition to the u-cut flower field. On Oct 14, there will be a wine tasting, food trucks, craft vendors, bounce house, petting zoo, pet adoptions, corn maze, hayride and pumpkin picking. From 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sundays until Oct. 29, visitors can pick sunflowers while blooming, pumpkins and large gourds.

Go: Across from Pop’s Farm Market and Garden Center, 238 Cranbury Station Road, Monroe; popsfarmmarketandgardencenter.com; No admission fee for corn maze and other children's activities. The bounce house is $8 for unlimited bounce and Saturday and Sunday hayrides are $5 each ride from 11:30 to 3:30 p.m.

Howell Living History Farm, Lambertville

The 250-year-old Howell Farm hosts the longest-running corn maze in the Garden State. The four-acre maze has two miles of paths with a maze master tower, victory bridge, maze games and a theme of Maid-a-Milking for 2023. There is a courtyard with a pumpkin patch, hayrides, food tent and children's haybale maze. Open from 5 to 8 p.m. Fridays, noon to 8 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 4 p.m. Sundays.

Go: 70 Woodens Lane, Lambertville; howellfarm.org; Admission is $12 for ages 13 and up, $10 for ages 5 -12 and children aged 4 and under are free. All 2023 maze tickets will be sold on-site during regular hours (cash and credit cards accepted). Group rates for 20 or more pre-paying by cash or check at Howell Farm, at least one week in advance.

Cheryl Makin is an award-winning features and education reporter for MyCentralJersey.com, part of the USA Today Network. Contact: Cmakin@gannettnj.com or @CherylMakin. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Things to do in Central Jersey: Fall bucket list for 2023