Howell Living History Farm’s 17th Annual Corn Maze, the longest-running corn maze in New Jersey, challenges visitors to navigate 2½ miles of pathways that form an image of the farm’s henhouse and chickens. Those who find the exit in the shortest time — and who solve the maze’s crossword questions and other challenges along the way – win crowing rights and a roost on the courtyard scoreboard.
Maze-goers seeking the ultimate challenge can try solving the maze in the dark, when moon, stars and lamplight are needed to find the way out. Team-building challenges for schools, community groups and businesses are available on weekdays, by reservation.
Open weekends Sept. 12 through Nov. 1. General admission is $10 for ages 10 and older, $8 for children ages 5-9 and free for children 4 and under. In September, the hours of entry are noon until 8 p.m. on Saturdays, and noon until 4 p.m. on Sundays. In October, entry hours are from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. on Fridays, noon until 8 p.m. on Saturdays, and noon until 4 p.m. on Sundays. The maze closes one hour after the latest entry time.
The 2015 maze includes an all-new courtyard with music, games, photo-ops and pedal tractors for kids. Hayrides, food, a farm stand with pumpkins, and the farm’s traditional hay bale maze are also offered.
Also new in 2015, is an artistic exhibit of 50 giant pumpkins carved by specially selected artists. The pumpkins will be featured the weekend of Oct. 9-11 when the Hopewell Valley Arts Council presents the first-ever Amazing Pumpkin Carve. Admission to the exhibit is $5 for ages 10 and up, free for ages 9 and under. Carving demonstrations and pumpkin-related fun is planned in the Maze Courtyard weekends before and after the event.
The maze is the annual fundraiser of the all-volunteer Friends of Howell Farm, a registered 501c3 non-profit organization whose mission is to help the Mercer County Park Commission with its operation of the farm. The 2015 maze will help fund programs that celebrate New Jersey’s history of poultry innovation, from the first mail delivery of day-old chicks to the revolutionary egg-sorting machine invented by Mercer County’s own Otto Niederer.
Howell Farm is owned by the County of Mercer and operated by the Mercer County Park Commission. It is located on Valley Road, just off Route 29, two miles south of Lambertville (GPS address: 70 Woodens Lane, Lambertville, NJ 08530). Visiting hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and noon to 4 p.m. on Sundays. Parking and admission are free.
For more information, call the farm office at 609-737-3299 or visit www.howellfarm.org. or www.mercercountyparks.org.
