Fall is here and NWOKBuzz.com is all about it.
The newly-formed tourism and travel website that is a sister site to EnidBuzz.com is hosting its inaugural event It’s Fall Y’all Agritour starting this Saturday.
It’s Fall Y’All Agritour showcases three working farms in Northwest Oklahoma that open to the public for the fall season:
- Rustic Roots, north of Lamont, opens this Saturday, Sept. 21, and runs through Nov. 3
- DaZe in a MaZe, east of Marshall, opens this Saturday, Sept. 21, and runs through Nov. 10
- Red Bird Farm, north of Enid, opens next Saturday, Sept. 28, and runs through Oct. 27
Visitors are encouraged to attend any or all of the farms, snap a selfie, and then post on Facebook with the hashtags #itsfallyalltour and #nwokbuzz to be entered in weekly prize drawings. Those who show they’ve “liked” NWOKBuzz’s Facebook page at the gate will also receive a discount or gift from the farm.
RUSTIC ROOTS
Rustic Roots’ owner Sarah Aldrich has upped the fall experience in her ninth season.
Among the new additions are 30-plus vendors will be set up on the weekends including the three-day festival Oct. 11-13. There will be live bands every Saturday night on the newly built stage that doubles as the front porch. And perhaps what she’s most excited about are the hot air balloon rides to allow visitors to view the maze design from the air.
Aldrich nicknamed the theme for this year’s mazes as “hitting the trails” because it’s a nod to the Chisholm Trail, which is literally 10 minutes west of her family’s farm.
Annual delights returning include the pumpkin patch, corn maze, sunflower maze, hay maze, an expanded petting zoo with upscale animal pens, customized playground equipment, demonstrations such as a reptile guy, a “bazillion” yard games, corn cannon, pony rides, face painting, and the barrel train. As always there are multiple candid photo opps set up around the farm too.
“Every time you turn the corner, there is something to do,” Aldrich said. Because there is so much to see and do, she suggested visitors purchase the $20 season pass that covers everything but the corn cannon and animal feed for the petting zoo.
Otherwise, admission at the gate is $12 per person with ages 2 and younger free. With proof of ID, military personnel and first responders get a 20 percent discount on admission or the season pass.
Rustic Roots is open to the public 10 a.m. to dusk Thursday through Saturday and 1 p.m. to dusk on Sundays. If a school group or senior adult group wants to take a field trip, they can contact Aldrich to arrange for a weekday tour. Those who want to have professional photos taken at the farm need to pre-schedule an appointment so as not to interfere with the festivities, Aldrich added.
“Get back to your roots and enjoy country life,” she commented. “There is something about the simplicity.”
DAZE IN A MAZE
As one of the original agritourism farms in the state, DaZe in a MaZe will celebrate its 23rd year. James and Kathy Jantz opened their grain field as a field maze three days before 9/11. Their three children, all now adults, helped mom and dad create the premier maze complete with six colored flags, an observation bridge, several dead ends, and four exits.
DaZe in a MaZe’s 7-acre maze is why people drive from across the state and even across state lines to come.
“We always do a really good maze,” James Jantz said. “It’s a real maze.”
There are three other mazes too—the jungle maze for those daring to race through without a map or flags, the hay bale maze for those who’ve never navigated a maze before, and the tiny tot maze for littles ages 3 and younger.
Annual delights returning include the pumpkin patch, petting zoo (animal feed is an extra cost), dino dig with cowasaurus bones, hayrack rides, barrel train, concession stand, a sno cone vendor, and many photo opps.
Admission at the gate is $10 cash per person; ages 3 and younger get in free with a paid adult admission. Weekend group rates are $9 per person for groups of 20 or more, $8 per person for 30 or more.
DaZe in a MaZe is open to the public 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturdays and 2 p.m. to dusk on Sundays. During fall break, they will be open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 17, and Friday, Oct. 18. If a school group wants to take a field trip, they can contact the Jantzes to arrange for a weekday tour.
There are canopies, pavilions, and fire pits available for groups wanting to celebrate together at the maze; they just need to reserve them ahead of time.
Just a reminder no pets are allowed, so visitors are asked to leave their dogs at home, Kathy Jantz said. And for obvious reasons, there is no smoking on the premises.
“This is a chance to have fun and connect with the outdoors again,” James Jantz said. “Disconnect from technology—look around, play, and run around. Enjoy time with the family in the great outdoors.”
“Take a break and take your mind off everything,” Kathy Jantz added.
RED BIRD FARM
Red Bird Farm kicks off its fall season with a Harvest Market on Saturday, Sept. 28, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Visitors will be able to shop 70-plus vendors and the barn store, eat from multiple food trucks, check out the petting zoo, or grab pumpkins from the patch.
Admission is free with a $5 parking pass per vehicle. There will also be a $10 Fall Fun Zone ticket per person available for access to the hayrides, corn maze, hay maze, kiddie playland, and spooky forest. Children ages 2 and younger get a free Fall Fun Ticket.
Owners Kent and Becky Evatt said the expansion of vendors and the enormous popularity of this event forced them to consider alternatives regarding parking at this year’s market.
There will be no parking on the farm or on the highway; everyone will be directed to park north of the farm in a designated field with parking attendants. Thanks to P&K Equipment, all visitors will be transported from the off-site parking area to the farm via tractors, wagons, and gators.
Anyone buying a pumpkin will be able to pickup their purchase at the pumpkin station located in the off-site parking area on their way out, Becky Evatt said, so they don’t have to lug the pumpkin(s) around while at the farm.
Every weekend in October, the Evatts will host Fall on the Farm. Admission is free as well as free parking on the farm. Fall Fun Zone tickets will be available at Fall on the Farm too.
Red Bird Farm is open to the public 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays and 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays. On Friday nights in October, “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” will be showing on the side of the barn. Movie tickets are $5 per person with ages 2 and younger getting in free; moviegoers are asked to bring their own blanket or chair.
Candid photos during Harvest Market and Fall on the Farm are allowed. Those who want to have professional photos taken at Red Bird Farm need to pre-schedule an appointment so as not to interfere with the festivities.
“We just want to give families the opportunity to celebrate the season we’re in, putting their phones down and creating memories,” Becky Evatt said.
Red Bird Farm will close out its fall season around Halloween to “flip the farm” for the holidays. The shopping for live Christmas trees season begins Nov. 23.