Autumn activities for the family
Faith Farms in Elm Grove has a slew of fall events, including Kernal Kobb’s corn maze, a haunted house, farmers’ market, getting inside a closed coffin to experience the “last ride” and concerts.
For about three minutes, visitors can enter a coffin and smell roses from the funeral home, exhaust from the hearse, dirt from being put in the grave and last, but not least, a rotting corpse while listening to a story that simulates a ride to your grave, said Candy Wilkins, who formerly managed Cash Point before the local flooding.
Nearby Taylortown has a legend that a bride’s groom never showed up to marry her, and she hanged herself in the bell tower at the church, which later caught fire. They say her spirit is still around the area.
The maze is open through Nov. 5.
It is a tribute to the sacrifices of the U.S. military and is in the formation of a soldier carrying an injured soldier. One dollar from every ticket goes to help local wounded warriors at Barksdale Air Force Base. The family donated a pallet of corn for a wounded warriors’ hunting day on the base and adjacent land owned by Wilkins’ parents, Larry and Debbie Roberts.
Vendors are set up for concessions.
“The Dog Pound,” a local hot dog vendor, is on the grounds and occasionally snow cones or a vendor with “wild things” such as buffalo burgers and other exotic meats are there.
Maze hours are 5 p.m. to midnight on Fridays, 10 a.m. to midnight on Saturdays and 1 to 7 p.m. on Sundays. Cost is $10 for adults, $8 for kids 3 to 11 and free for 2 years and under. Teachers and four chaperones are free on the field trips, which are $8 per student.
“Faith Farms’ corn maze is a great example of turning agricultural assets into profits,” said Dora Ann Hatch, agritourism coordinator for the LSU AgCenter.
“The maze helps youth connect to agriculture while at the same time provides a diversified income for its owners.”
A children’s area includes animals (pigs, ponies, sheep, cows and a chicken coop), hop squares, a plinko board, straw maze, music wall and stick horses. Field trips are $8 per child.
There is an 11.5-foot chair and horse to climb for photos.
The Dark Arena Haunted House is $15 per person. It is open every Friday and Saturday through Halloween from 7:30 p.m. to midnight.
The arena hosts weddings, rehearsal dinners and other events, along with catering for them as well.
On Oct. 29 at 5 p.m., Landry and Company will perform, with Cole Vosbury at 6 p.m. At 8 p.m., country star David Ball will perform. Tickets can be purchased at www.outhousetickets.com or at the farm.
A costume contest will be held on Halloween. Register by 7 p.m.
Also, two cabins with two twin beds can be rented for $50 a night.
The farm is at 1145 Highway 527 in Elm Grove. Visit www.faithfarmsarena.com for more information.
– Mary Ann Van Osdell
