WESTERN MASS. – As the leaves turn brown and the seasons change, more residents are looking to participate in fall activities. Corn Mazes are one of the most popular and family-friendly options.

Both Mike’s Maze and The Apple Place are two local farms offering new mazes this year. After facing hardships in 2020 due to COVID-19 and lack of rain, they are now back with exciting, interactive maze themes, special events and more.

Due to COVID-19, many local corn mazes are not participating this year. This article is not meant to be a complete listing of Western Mass. corn mazes – we encourage readers to reach out to their favorite local maze for more information.

Mike’s Maze

Sunderland

Mike’s Maze, located in Sunderland, is one of Western Massachusetts most well-known corn mazes. The maze is located on a working farm at the foot of Mount Sugarloaf and offers games, attractions such as horse drawn wagons, potato cannons, a playground and pick your own Halloween pumpkins. The Corn Cafe also serves food all day.

The theme of this year’s corn maze is “Imagine” and it is a tribute to John Lennon and Yoko Ono’s song, released 50 years ago. The maze is eight acres long and features stations where participants are able to tap into their creativity through questions, prompts, scenarios, games and more.

The maze opened Sept. 10 and will run through Nov. 7. It is open Friday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m and Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The cost of admission for adults is $12 on Friday and $16 on Saturday and Sunday. Kids, students, seniors and active military members pay $10 on Friday and $14 on Saturday and Sunday. Children ages four and under are free. Tickets may be purchased at the maze or in advance online.

Social distancing is encouraged at the maze and unvaccinated guests are required to wear a mask at all times.

Mike’s Maze is also offering beer tasting mazes this season. The mazes will take place each Friday in October and will allow participants to play games and track down local brews at tasting stations within the maze. Amherst Brewing, Great Awakening, Leadfoot Brewing and Holyoke Craft Beer are just a few of the breweries participating in these events.

Tickets must be purchased in advance for the beer tasting mazes and participants are required to be 21 years of age or older.

More information on Mike’s Maze can be found on their website at https://mikesmaze.com/. Mike’s Maze is located at 23 S. Main St. in Sunderland. They can be reached at 665-8331.

The Apple Place

East Longmeadow

After a year hiatus, The Apple Place in East Longmeadow is back with a new corn maze. Due to the drought in 2020, The Apple Place was unable to grow their corn to complete the annual maze. Now, however, they are welcoming guests for their “It’s Your Turn” maze.

The maze runs Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and features interactive games hidden within. Participants are able to find and play the games throughout the six-and-a-half-acre maze and receive a prize upon completion.

Tickets for the maze are $12 for ages 10 and up, $10 for ages five to nine and children four and under are free. Both credit cards and cash are accepted forms of payment.

Social distancing is able to be maintained throughout the maze. The Apple Place is not requiring masks.

The Apple Place will also be offering themed mazes and events throughout the season. They will be having flashlight nights, their annual Pumpkin Place event and Terror in the Maze, a scary Halloween-themed maze taking place on Oct. 30 and 31.

More information on The Apple Place and the corn maze can be found on their website at https://www.theappleplace.net/. The Apple Place is located at 540 Somers Rd. in East Longmeadow. They can be reached at 348-9628.