Rural recreation at the farm

from Back to School and Fall Guide 2022 - Queens Chronicle

by Queens Chronicle

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QUEENS CHRONICLE, Thursday, August 25, 2022 Page 16

Fall Festivities at Queens Farm

by Sophie Krichevsky

Associate Editor

As summer winds down and kids prepare to return to school, the Queens County Farm Museum is gearing up for its busy fall calendar, which is chock-full of seasonal events.

The farm will kick things off on Sept. 9 with the 39th Annual Queens County Fair, which will run through Sept. 11. Over the course of the weekend, those in attendance can enjoy carnival games and rides, hayrides, arts and crafts and other classics. Buy a souvenir from an area artisan at the Queens Farm’s Handmade Marketplace, and grab a bite (or, for those over 21, a drink) at Food Alley.

On top of that, several New York City-based performers will take the main stage, such as acrobat Li Liu, who has been a staple of the County Fair for years, and musical group Dr. K’s Motown Revue. Meanwhile, students from John Bowne High School will play host to some agricultural exhibitions.

Community members will put their culinary, agricultural and artistic skills to the test as they vie for the top prize in the Blue Ribbon Competition on Saturday and Sunday. The competition includes 360 subcategories across six different divisions: vegetables, flower arranging, horticulture, arts and crafts, culinary arts and apiculture. There are also two junior divisions of culinary arts and arts and crafts. The competition is free to enter.

Tickets for the fair are available online at queensfarm.org. Three-day passes are $45 for adults and $35 for children ages 3 to 12; those under 2 may visit for free. Single-day passes are $20 for adults and $15 for kids ages 3 to 12, except for Friday passes, which are $14 for all ages (the festivities begin at 3:30 that afternoon as opposed to 11 a.m. the other days). It is recommended you buy tickets in advance.

The fair marks the opening of the Queens Farm’s Amazing Maize Maze, a three-acre labyrinth and the only corn maze in New York City. During the fair, admission to the maze is included in your ticket, and after that, admission is $8 for children 3 to 12 and $12 for adults. The maze will be open Friday through Sunday, Sept. 16 to Oct. 29. It will also be open on Monday, Oct. 10.

For four nights only — Oct. 15, 20, 22 and 27 — the Queens Farm will host Maze by Moonlight, during which attendees will navigate through the Amazing Maize Maze in the dark. Tickets for that are $15 for adults, $12 for children 3 to 12 and free for those 2 and under. Grab your flashlight and get going!

Of course, the month of October would not be complete without a trip to a pumpkin patch. The Queens Farm has you covered from Oct. 1 to 29, Monday through Friday from noon to 4:30 p.m. and weekends 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission is free; it is recommended that you bring your own bag.

If the pumpkin patch isn’t enough to get you in the Halloween spirit, you can join the fun at Halloween on the Farm on Oct. 30 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Put on your costume and go trick-or-treating with the farm animals or join the dance party! Those looking for a spookier experience can head to the farmhouse for some haunting. Hayrides and food from area vendors will also be avail-

Outdoor fun able, just as at the County Fair. It’s also the last day to try the Amazing Maize Maze! Those who missed the Queens Farm’s Thunderbird American Indian Pow Wow in July need look no further than the Autumn Dance Celebration. On Nov. 13, the Thunderbird American Indian Dancers will, once again, perform traditional dances, this time in celebration of the year’s harvest. Tickets are $15 for adults and $10 for children ages 4 to 11. For tickets and more information, visit queensfarm.org. Q

The Amazing Maize Maze is a staple of the Queens County Farm Museum’s fall programming. PHOTO BY RUTH MONTESA / FILE