Maris, Thomasson farms offer autumn activities

Whether you want family friendly fun or some scary fare, these local farms have it all.

By Ray Miller-Still • October 7, 2020 10:47 am
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Thomasson Family Farm is alive with family-fun activities, from picking out pumpkins for Halloween to visiting the farm animals and the themed corn maze. Above is Olive Alvis practicing her milking skills on “Squirty Gierty” while Wilder Ramos is pictured in the pumpkin patch below. Photos by Ray Miller-Still
Thomasson Family Farm is alive with family-fun activities, from picking out pumpkins for Halloween to visiting the farm animals and the themed corn maze. Above is Olive Alvis practicing her milking skills on “Squirty Gierty” while Wilder Ramos is pictured in the pumpkin patch below. Photos by Ray Miller-Still

If you’re looking for some outdoor fall fun before the weather turns sour, the Plateau has you covered with Enumclaw’s Thomasson Family Farm and Buckley’s Maris Farms.

Of course, COVID-19 has switched things up a bit, including limited capacity and timed entries, so make sure you check out their new rules and restrictions before heading out to the pumpkin patch.

Thomasson Family Farm is alive with family-fun activities, from picking out pumpkins for Halloween to visiting the farm animals and the themed corn maze. Above is Olive Alvis practicing her milking skills on "Squirty Gierty" while Wilder Ramos is pictured in the pumpkin patch below. Photos by Ray Miller-Still

THOMASSON FAMILY FARM

Like every year, Thomasson Family Farm opened just last week and aims to provide families with myriad games and activities throughout the month of October before closing its doors again.

But unlike past seasons, the farm is limiting capacity to 50 percent. Tickets must be bought online, and while there’s no time limit to how long you can stay, TFF is asking patrons to arrive only at their ticket arrival time in order to spread out crowds. Face masks are being required in areas where you are unable to social distance.

One of TFF’s main draws is its annual corn maze – this year, the maze’s theme is “travel the world” and features the Statue of Liberty, the Eiffel Tower, and the Pyramids of Giza. The maze can take approximately 45 minutes to complete, so plan accordingly.

Smaller children may also enjoy the popular Kids Korral, featuring a bubble table, hand-powered rubber duck races, Squirty Guierty (the hand-milking cow), cattle roping, junior zip lines, a chalkboard house, and other such play equipment.

There’s also the six-acre pumpkin patch where you can pick out decorative gourds and future jack-o-lanterns to bring home with you. This area is also dog-friendly, but make sure to bring a leash.

If you’re looking for an autumn treat, you can always check out the Korral Kafe, which will be selling pre-packaged snacks like fudge and kettle corn, as well as corn on the cob. The Parlor is also open and offering caramel apples, candy bags, caramels, pepper jellies, local honey, other sweets and fall decor.

Finally is TFF’s laser tag arena, which is only available on the weekends, meaning spots are likely extremely limited. Games run approximately every 10 minutes, and can host up to 10 players. Laser tag is weather-dependent.

TFF is open 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., except on of October 31, when it’s only open to noon.

Weekday admission is $9, whereas weekend admission is $13; you can purchase tickets at https://thomassonfamilyfarm.ticketleap.com/2020-pumpkin-patch/. Tickets include entry into the corn maze, one game of laser tag (weekends only), unlimited tractor train rides, unlimited hay wagon rides, and access to the Kids Korral area, animal viewing, tricycle track, apple sling shot (also weekend only), wandering through our fairy tale trail and entrance to the Parlor.

There are discounts for seniors, and children under 3 years of age can enter for free.

Those only looking to head to the pumpkin patch can do so for free.

For more information, head to https://www.thomassonfarm.com/.

MARIS FARMS

Like TFF, Maris Farms is requiring patrons to purchase tickets online and to only arrive at the farm during their timed session to spread out crowds. Face masks, of course, are required when social distancing is not possible.

Maris’ big attraction is the Haunted Woods, which is still being held despite being limited to 50 percent capacity; groups are also limited to five or fewer.

The woods are intended to be a real fright, so it’s not recommended for children under 10 or for people with heart conditions.

For folks looking for a less spooky time, there’s the corn maze, which is open during the day and at night (you must bring a flashlight after dark). The maze can take up to 45 minutes to complete, but there are different difficulty settings for you to choose from.

There’s also the pumpkin patch, which not only sells orange, white, and red pumpkins, but decorative gourds, cornstalk bundles, carving kits, and Maris Farms merchandise as well.

Finally, there are numerous games and activities to experience, from the ziplines and Gaga Ball (a friendlier version of dodgeball) to human-sized Foosball, trikes, slides, Tire Mountain, tetherball, the cow train, and more.

Maris Farms’ daytime activities are open weekdays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and weekends from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Admission for children (3-12) and seniors is $14 during the week and $18 on weekends; adult tickets are $16 and $20 respectively.

Day admission includes all activities except the Haunted Woods and the after-dark corn maze.

The Haunted Woods runs from 7:30 to 10 p.m. Oct. 9 and 10, 7:30 to 9 p.m. on Sundays (Oct. 11, 18, and 25) and 7 to 10 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays (Oct. 16, 17, 23, 24, 30, and 31); admission is $35 per person, or $50 is you want a fast pass.

For those just wanting to explore the corn maze at night, admission is $16; open hours are 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights only.

More information can be found at https://marisfarms.com/, where you can also buy your tickets.

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