There is plenty for folks to check out at the Kraay Family Farm near Lacombe, with the signature feature being the famous corn maze.
The scenic site features some 40 attractions, and the Spring Sneak Peek is right around the corner on June 9th ahead of the regular summer season which launches July 20th.
“The corn is coming up and we are looking forward to a good growing season, so we are excited about that,”said Rachel Kraay of Kraay Family Farm.
Visitors can explore the farmyard, the sprawling corn maze, the jumping pillow, mini golf and more.
“One of the things we are also known for that we love to do is to create new attractions every year,” she explained. “We spend the winter dreaming up new things - so we have four or five new games for this year at least.”
Some won’t be unveiled until the main opening come July, others will be available to check out on June 9th at the Sneak Peek event.
“This year we thought we’d give it a go with this (event) with getting people excited,” she said.
Summer season hours run from July 20th to Sept. 3rd - Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Fall hours are from Sept. 4th through to Oct. 20th (Monday they are closed except for holidays, but open Tuesdays through Thursdays from 4 – 9 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.)
Guests are also encouraged to check out the ‘Flashlight Maze’ evenings in the fall.
“Bring your own flashlights, buy a glowstick or try the maze under a full moon for a natural way to walk lit paths at night! The maze is not lit up with yard lights so when the nights get darker the maze gets darker (earlier) too – try it in the light and the dark for two completely different experiences,” notes the web site.
Either way, it’s a very fun experience, said Kraay.
“This year will be our 19th season - and we’ve grown substantially from when we opened.”
Back then there was the corn maze and a few firepits and a slide, but today, some guests don’t even venture into the corn maze because there are so many attractions on site to check out.
“The corn maze is also fun because we can change it every year,” she said, referring to the intricate design changes that keep visitors guessing as they make their way through its twists and turns.
“It’s always something we look forward to doing,” Kraay said, referring to the process of coming up with each year’s design.
Last year, the Kraays were proud to honour Canada’s 150th birthday by shaping the maze into a maple leaf.
Today, the maze covers about 15 acres.
Kraay said she tackles it every year.
“I think I should at least see how difficult it really is,” she added with a laugh, noting the longest she has spent in the maze herself is about two hours.
For Kraay, working at the farm is a constant joy.
“People of all different ages come, and just being able to watch them play and have fun together is great. To me, I just love that,” she explained.
“We also get to work together with our family and with our kids, so that’s a big deal for us, too. To be able to do something that we love with the people that we love. We really feel blessed to be able to do that.”
For more details, check out www.kraayfamilyfarm.com.