For the Fall season, there are many fundraisers that come to mind. But, being part of a Haunted Corn Maze is definitely a new thrill that is sweeping the country. Here’s one way to get your rescue involved with the action!

A haunted corn maze is a labyrinth created in the middle of the corn fields, with twists and turns sure to get the best navigator lost. It’s a great pasttime for the fall season, and can have several piggyback fundraisers to make the event a real crowd pleaser. Ticket prices for a regular corn maze range from $7 to $10 for an adult. Ticket prices for a haunted corn maze are between $10 and $15 per person, and are not recommended for those under 12.

Work with a local farmer to offer volunteer assistance in exchange for a % of the profits from the events. Your group can help man the booths, host the bonfire spooky story time, sell refreshments and more. In exchange, you can receive a guaranteed payment per night, such as $250 per night, or $1 per ticket sold that night.

Or, you could host your own maze using bales of hay at an open field. Ask farmers to donate bales of hay for your group to use for a few nights. Create a maze as part of a carnival and charge a donation for admittance.

Piggyback Ideas:

* Sell refreshments such as cocoa, cider, s’mores, slices of pumpkin pie, popcorn, drinks and hotdogs.

* Host a hayride with a tractor pulling a wagon. People sit on the bales of hay and are driven around the area taking in all the sights and sounds of fall.

* Pumpkin Launch. Use a 3 man slingshot apparatus to launch pumpkins and other smaller gourds a great distance, aiming for a scarecrow in the field.

* Host a bonfire with spooky stories told every 20 minutes.

* Host a pumpkin patch where people can pick out their own pumpkins. At the end of the holiday, have pre-cleaned pumpkins ready to carve at home for people to buy.

* Host a needle in the haystack scavenger hunt. Designate certain items to be worth prizes or food items from the concession stand.

* Host a fall decoration station where mums, bales of hay, ornamental corn, flower arrangements and seasonal crafts are available for sale.

* Create a scarecrow stuffing station. Allow people to bring children’s clothing or adult sized clothing to stuff with hay that your group provides.

* Host a petting zoo with some animals from the farm.

* Set up a photo cut-out area where kids and adults can put their heads through a hole in a plywood board to complete the picture of a scarecrow, a farmer on a tractor, a pumpkin head, or some other scene.

Take a look at some amazing mazes here:

http://www.mazeplay.com/

 

It’s never too late to talk with a local tree farm, pumpkin patch farm or other berry farms in your area who may be interested in hosting a corn maze. Work together in advance to create a wonderful event, or create your own smaller event as part of a harvest themed carnival. Enjoy the fun of the season!