Halloween Celebrations Are A-maze-ing Near Terre Haute, Indiana

Underneath a full moon, row upon row of cornstalks shield the ghosts and ghouls and zombies that hide within their acres, just waiting to scare the bejeezus out of you. With flashlight in hand, you move silently through the tall plants swaying slightly in the breeze, trying to find your way out of this maze (or would it be a maize?) before you meet your doom.
Or you can be a wimp and try your hand at one of the several corn mazes near Terre Haute, Ind., during the day, when no zombies are present.

There are no less than five such establishments within an hour's drive of Terre Haute, offering a variety of entertainment in celebration of the fall harvest and Halloween.

My favorite fall harvest/Halloween entertainment complex is Pumpkin Works, just over the Illinois state line and situated between Terre Haute and Paris, Ill., near Elbridge. Among the attractions at Pumpkin Works are nine mazes, ranging from some created specifically for children to the large corn maze. Also at Pumpkin Works, you can pick you own pumpkins, go on one of three different hayrides, grab a snack or a gift at the general store, or fire a pumpkin across the field at a target in the "pumpkin sling."

Last fall, a visit to the Country Bumpkin Pumpkin Patch near Grandview, Ill., about 30 minutes northeast of Terre Haute, included a trip through the "Survivor" maze. This unique attraction calls for participants to read a short story posted just outside the entrance to the corn maze. Questions about the story are posted at various points within the maze. A wrong answer sends maze-goers down a dead-end path. The correct answer to the question sends participants along the right path to the maze exit. Children get a real kick out of playing along with this maze, too.

Here's a look at what each of the five sites has to offer:

Country Bumpkin Pumpkin Patch
Address: Near Grandview, Ill.
Telephone: (217) 946-4279 or (217) 273-4099
Hours of operation (all times Illinois): 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Columbus Day 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Weekday scheduling available for groups. Oct. 15 is Christian Music Day with live music at 1 p.m.
Attractions: Hayseed County Fair (carnival); Hair painting; Face painting; Pumpkin painting; Hillbilly Golf; Befuddlin' Big

Bale Maze; Seven-Acre Corn Maze; "No-Sense" Fence Maze; Two-Barn Maze; "Survivor" Corn Maze; Pert-N-Near 'Mpossible Maze; Hayseed County Hoosegow Crawlin' Maze.

Special events: For parties of 25 or more, Old Fashion Bumpkin Weenie Roast.
Cost: Age 6 and up, $7; age 3-5, $3.50; 2 years and under, free. Price includes all mazes and Hillbilly Golf. Tickets must be bought for wagon rides, carnival games, etc.

Directions: From Paris, Ill., take Illinois Route 16 turn south on the Grandview road (look for the sign). Follow road into Grandview and turn west at the stop sign. After 1/4 mile the road turns south. Follow road south to the Country Bumpkin sign. Turn west and follow rock road until you see the pumpkin patch. From Marshall, Ill., take the Clarksville Road, turn north on Cline Orchard Road. Follow road until you see the Country Bumpkin sign and turn west and continue another1/4 mile to the pumpkin patch.
Web site: www.countrybumpkin.net

Hog Wallow Farm
Address: Near Cayuga and Dana, Ind.
Telephone: (765) 665-3532.
Hours of operation (all times Indiana): 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday through Thursday through Oct. 31.
Attractions: Unlimited trips through huge cornfield maze; giant straw pyramids and tunnel play area; hayrides on weekends; flashlight nights until 10 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays; accommodations for church, Scouts or birthday parties.
Special events: Parent/Child Fishing Contest, Oct. 1-2; Harvest Supper Party, 5 p.m. Oct. 30 (bring covered dish).
Cost: $5 per person; weekend hayrides, $2.50; harvest supper party, free.
Directions: Take Indiana 63 to Indiana 71, just south of Cayuga; or, U.S. 36 to Dana and follow glow-in-the-dark pumpkin signs.

Pumpkin Works
Address: Near Elbridge, Ill.
Telephone: (217) 275-3327.
Hours of operation (all times Illinois): 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, until 9 p.m. Fridays and 10 p.m. Saturdays, and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays through Oct. 31.

Attractions: Nine mazes, including Jungle and Mystery Mazes (corn mazes), Spider Web, (open-air pipe maze), four straw mazes (some enclosed), and Dark Zone (enclosed, bring flashlight); Haunted Dungeon; Pumpkin Sling Shot; General Store, Harvest Tent; pumpkin, sunflower, and Indian corn fields (you pick); free activities for adults and children; school tours (reserve in advance).

Special events: Hayrides; private campfires, reservations required (bring own food, extra wood provided.)
Cost: Farm admission free, $2.50 each for tickets to activities, or 10 to 29 tickets, $2, special rates for 30 or more tickets. Weekend hayrides (reserve private rides in advance), three tickets each, nature rides, 1 p.m. to dusk Saturdays and Sundays; spooky rides, dusk to close Friday and Saturday evenings, Oct. 23-28, 30 and 31, 7 p.m. only; and Sugar Creek Adventures - new this year - takes riders through the creek and woods to a new nature preserve and pumpkin patch, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays; campfires, (reservations required), $30.

Directions: From West Terre Haute, take Old Paris Road west past the Illinois state line, farm is east of Elbridge, Ill. From Paris, Ill., take Lower Terre Haute Road to just east of Elbridge.
Web site: www.pumpkinworks.com

Sturgeon's Barn
Address: Riley, Ind.
Telephone: (812) 894-2676.
Hours of operation (all times Indiana): Regular activities: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, noon to 6 p.m. Special event days vary, barn open all day.

Attractions: Sturgeon's Barn, food, corn maze, hayrides, cow train. School trips and private parties (reservations required.)
Special events: Haunted Maze on Oct. 6-7, 20-21 and 27-28; Riley Recreational League fund-raiser Oct. 21; Northview High School Band fund-raiser 6 to 10 p.m. Oct. 27; ISU cheerleaders and dancing zombies, 6 to 10 p.m. Oct. 28.
Cost: Free admission, hayrides, $2, corn maze, $5.
Directions: Take Indiana 46 south from Terre Haute to Riley.
Web site: www.sturgeonsbarn.com

Hobson's Farm
Address: Rockville, Ind.
Telephone: (765) 569-5655.
Hours of operation (all times Indiana): Monday through Friday during the day by appointment, 6 to 10 p.m. Fridays, noon to 10 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays through Oct. 29. During Covered Bridge Festival: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays through Thursdays and 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays.

Attractions: The MAIZE labyrinth. This year's design includes a horse and carriage.

Cost: Admission $6 ages 12 and over, $4 ages 3 to11, ages 2 and under free.

Directions: Take U.S. 36 west from Rockville. Go 3.1 miles and turn right at Coloma Road. Go one mile to where Coloma Road meets Strawberry Road. Stay to the right on Strawberry Road. Go east 0.7 miles, entrance is on the right.
Web site: www.hobsonsfarm.com.