Corn mazes, pumpkins and ghosts – oh my! If you’re looking for family-friendly fall fun, head to the Thurston Bountiful Byway. From a town that changes its name every October to five-acre corn mazes and pumpkins everywhere, there’s plenty of fun to be had by all.
You can contact Experience Olympia & Beyond for a Thurston Bountiful Byway map and self-guided tour brochure.
BOO-CODA
Since 2012, the town of Bucoda has transformed every fall season, becoming the BOO-CODA SPOOK-TACULAR! According to Mayor Alan Carr, the event is a way to raise awareness of the small town and draw visitors, and is a fundraiser for community projects.
The entire month of October has fall fun for everyone. Highlights include and trick-or-treating (every night in October); a hearse procession and viewing (October 13); pumpkin carving, ghost story telling, and coloring contests (October 20); an award-winning haunted house; and pumpkin pancake breakfasts (every Saturday in October).
If you love Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” be sure you’re in town on October 27 for Bucoda Thriller. On this day, people around the world take to the streets to try and break a world record for the most people dancing to this iconic song. Watch for firefighters dancing with their boots; drop in some cash for their annual “Thrill the Boot” fundraiser for the Bucoda Firefighter Association. Monies raised help local families in need throughout the year.
Visit the BOO-CODA SPOOK-TACULAR Facebook page for up to date events and news. You can get $2 off coupons for the haunted house at the following locations:
- Tenino: Market Fresh, Scatter Creek Winery, the Iron Works Boutique, City Hall and Aunt Kate’s Chocolates
- Bucoda: Joe’s Place
- Tumwater and Centralia Timberland Bank locations
Schilter Family Farm
Founded in 1930, the Schilter Family Farm added The Harvest Festival and Pumpkin Patch in 1997. It’s been going strong ever since. Opening September 29, their family-friendly farm has lots of fun fall activities for kids, including exploring Fort Nisqually, cow head roping, pumpkin bowling, corn hole, pumpkin cannons and more in the works. You can also find photo ops set up around the farm, so don’t forget your camera.
This year’s corn maze was designed in the likeness of Lou Gehrig to raise awareness for ALS-Lou Gehrig’s Disease. “We chose to support this organization to raise awareness around this devastating disease and help raise money towards finding a cure,” says Stephanie Schilter. “Our pastor from our parish, Fr. Jim Lee at St. Michael Parish in Olympia, was diagnosed with ALS back in November. We want to show our support and our love for him, as well as help the organization who’s striving to find a cure.”
Proceeds from their activities will go to the ALS Association. For more information, visit the Schilter Family Farm website.
Hunter Family Farm
The Hunter family, of Hunter Family Farm, loves opening their doors to the public. It’s one of their favorite parts of the fall season. “We look forward to sharing our farm with the public and contributing to wonderful memories and traditions for families,” says Tami Hunter. “Also, the baby goats! They’re so cute and hilarious and people love them as much as we do.”
While there, be sure to try the ducky race. Purchase a rubber ducky for $1, put it in a trough and then push an old-fashioned water pump to create a flow of water that sends your ducky across the finish line.
The farm also features two corn mazes. The giant maze is four acres and the junior corn maze is one acre. Look for clues to solve a mystery in the giant version. We asked for a hint on this year’s theme, but Tami wasn’t giving anything away. “Our mystery theme in the corn maze is still a mystery,” she says mysteriously.
“The older kids and adults enjoy the giant corn maze, pillow jump, animals, European super slide, pumpkin sling shot, wagon ride to the patch and picking out a pumpkin,” Tami says. “Everything is family friendly for all ages, nothing too scary.”
All this fun at the Hunter Family Farm starts September 29. For more information, visit the Hunter Family Farm website.
Rutledge Corn Maze
For many, the Rutledge Corn Maze is a family tradition, dating back to when the Rutledge family first started it. The family has farmed in Thurston County since the 1800s and bought their current farm in 1992. The maze is professionally and expertly designed each year with a different theme. This year, the family partnered with Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Thurston County, an American Cancer Society (ACS) event. “We lost my grandfather who started us in the corn growing business to cancer,” shares Robby Rutledge, when asked why they chose this charity. His grandfather also played a big part in helping to start the maze. “We also lost my grandmother recently to cancer as well. We’re doing it because we think it’s a worthy cause.”
On October 14, Haunting for Dollars will take place. It’s the main fundraising event for ACS. Tickets go on sale at 6:00 p.m. that night and the haunt opens at 8:00 p.m. “We bring in several of our more experienced actors to ensure that the show is a great success,” says Robby. Their goal is to raise $25,000 for the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer event, so come to the farm, go through the maze and donate to a cause that affects us all.
“We can’t say thank you enough for the opportunity to be working with them this year,” shares Autumn Cummings, event lead for Making Strides Against Breast Cancer of Thurston County. “And having such a unique way to share the mission with an amazing local family that is determined and passionate about finding a cure for cancer and supporting their community.”
Other activities at the farm include a pumpkin patch, haunted maze, a corn and a cow train, zombie paintball apocalypse, “spookley” story time, and arts and crafts (Saturdays and Sundays), corn hole, ladder ball, a swing set, corn cannons and more to be announced.
Be advised: The haunted maze is frightening. “It can be very scary,” cautions Robby. “However, I find that it depends on each person. We don’t recommend it for anyone under the age of 10.” Haunting for Dollars is also on the scarier side and Robby says he wouldn’t recommend it for children under 10-years-old.
The official opening date for the corn maze, haunted maze and zombie paintball apocalypse is September 22 and the pumpkin patch opens September 29. But Robby says you won’t be turned away if you come early. For more information, visit the Rutledge Corn Maze website.
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