When you talk to Tam Andersen about all of the good times people can have at her fun farm, you just can’t stop the puns from coming.
“Oh, it’s a corny occasion,” the so-called director of fun admits immediately with a hearty laugh. “We’re outstanding in our field when it comes to corn but we don’t stalk anyone.”
She’s just geared up for the family-friendly festivities all set to take place this September long weekend during Corn Fest. The annual celebration at the 35-acre Prairie Gardens & Adventure Farm is really just a great excuse to party outside with games, contests and amusements for kids of all ages. The theme is corn, in case you didn’t know, and this year the crop is three metres high thanks to ideal weather and growing conditions.
The incredibly popular rural entertainment destination has seen attendance skyrocket upward this summer — rain or shine — and she hopes to continue that trend with this weekend’s festivities.
“As far as the Corn Fest goes, it’s all about sweet corn. We have many acres of silage corn which the maze is cut into but so many people came out and said, ‘Where’s the corn cobs that we can eat?’ So we started growing all of these different varieties of sweet corn. Boy, they’re just starting to get ready, which is a good 10 days ahead of last year, which is exciting for us!”
That means that the corn-eating contest is sure to have a good crop of competitors as well. Andersen wanted to make sure that people register by 11 a.m. in order to secure their spot and a plateful of fire-roasted cobs.
Along with that test of endurance and speed you’ll find the explosive jubilation of the corn cannon. It’s a pressurized air tube and visitors can choose an ear of corn to aim at a wooden target. The perennial favourite gets even messier in a few weeks when the pumpkins on the vine are ready to be loaded up. If that’s not your thing, then you might want to put cornhusk doll making on your agenda.
Nothing compares to the corn maze though and this year it has an Alice in Cornland theme. It’s a seven-acre walking puzzle that Andersen says hasn’t claimed any unsuspecting wayward victims yet but there is one area that has already stymied many.
“We did have several people totally lost in Alice’s head! That seems to be the most problematic area,” she said, expecting even more lost visitors on the weekend.
“It usually is pretty busy. It’s the last [opportunity] before kids are really truly back in school.”
Apart from all of these activities, there will be entertainment by the Keith Rempel Band and Family Kompany Theatre.
