Salem-area harvest festivals open with corn mazes and pumpkins

Three farms near Salem open their harvest festivals this weekend, bringing corn mazes, pumpkin patches and hayrides to the mid-Willamette Valley through Halloween.

Bauman's Farm and Garden in Gervais, E.Z. Orchards near Salem and Fordyce Farm in east Salem all have fall activities running through late October. Hailey Cook of Salem Reporter first reported on the lineup of area festivals.

Bauman's Farm and Garden, Gervais

Bauman's Harvest Festival is in its 39th year at 12989 Howell Prairie Rd. NE in Gervais. The festival opened Sept. 19 and runs through Saturday, Oct. 31.

The farm offers more than 30 activities, including a petting zoo, corn maze, hayrides, pumpkin patch and live music, according to the farm's Facebook page. General admission is $8. All-inclusive bracelets cost $20.

Hours are Tuesday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission closes at 4 p.m. The farm is closed Mondays.

Upcoming special events include a Giant Pumpkin Weigh-Off on Saturday, Oct. 3, at 9 a.m., followed by a Giant Pumpkin Drop at 1 p.m. A three-day weekend Friday, Oct. 9, through Sunday, Oct. 11, has all activities open. Bauman's Cider Festival is Oct. 24–25, and closing day is Oct. 31.

The farm said the festival began decades ago as a pumpkin patch for a second-grade class and grew into a multigenerational tradition.

E.Z. Orchards, Salem

E.Z. Orchards HarvestFest opens Saturday, Sept. 26, and runs through Friday, Oct. 30. The farm said on Facebook that it focuses on family-friendly activities and education about Oregon agriculture.

Activities include hayrides, horseback riding, a petting zoo, a corn maze and a pumpkin patch. The farm is also known for its fresh-made apple cider doughnuts, according to Travel Oregon.

Weekday admission is $5 per person from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Weekend admission is $12.50 per person.

Fordyce Farm, Salem

Fordyce Farm, a family-owned operation since 1959 at 7023 Sunnyview Rd. NE in Salem, opened its pumpkin patch as of Saturday, Sept. 26, with a hay fort and additional fall activities coming soon.

The farm's Apple Palooza runs Saturday, Sept. 26, through Sunday, Sept. 27. Its fall breakfast event is sold out. Hours are Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sunday, noon to 6 p.m. Pricing was not listed on the farm's website as of Sept. 26.