Monsters need boots too! (Hunter boots, $150.00).
October is synonymous with pumpkins, orange and The Nightmare Before Christmas. For anyone who lives in Ottawa there’s another classic way to celebrate the month of monsters: a trip to Saunders Farm.
In addition to being cozy and cute, this amazing Kensie cardigan ($75.00) has pockets to stash your farm-found treasures. You’ll be playing outside most of the time so warm layers are an absolute must.
The while the 100-acre farm is open all year round, it’s best known for the events it hosts during their October “haunting season.” Located in Munster, the 30-minute drive to the farm can be a bit tricky (even if you trust your GPS). Your best bet if driving from Ottawa is to get yourself on Fallowfield Rd., and head west until you hit Munster Rd. Turn left onto Munster, then right onto Bleeks Rd. and you’ll find the farm about ½ km along on the right hand side; there are big signs… you won’t miss it. Things to pack: cash, a date, cozy-cute-clothing, courage.
Even if you do manage to get lost, you won’t be cold with your cozy Wooden Ships cowl ($68.00)
The first thing you should know about Saunders is that there are different activities available depending on the time you decide to visit. During the day the focus is on families, but don’t write off a before-supper-visit. If you buy a night ticket you can still show up late in the afternoon and take part in the daytime activities. While you’ll want to give the corn maze a pass if you’re older than 7, you might want to check out the hedge mazes. Saunders farm is known for having the most hedge mazes in North America. They aren’t scary, but manoeuvring through bushes is a good excuse to hold hands. Showing up in the afternoon also means you’ll have the opportunity to take a wagon ride and pick yourself a prize pumpkin fresh from the patch!
You won’t find these particular beauties in the pumpkin patch, but you will find that gorgeous dress at Roadtrip! (Like a Lady Dress, $55.00)
Even if you’re only interested in the frightful nights, it’s still a good idea to go early. Lines for the two most popular attractions, The Barn of Terror and Haunted Hayride, have been described on weekends as “1000 people long.”
The Barn of Terror is another great excuse for hand holding. You walk through the barn and are subjected to gruesome scenes interspersed with dark sections where actors jump out to spook you. Thankfully there aren’t any hands that grasp your ankles, and the actors are safely behind plexiglass, but this attraction certainly isn’t for the faint of heart.
Who wouldn’t want to hold your hand in the Barn of Terror when you look this cute?
The Haunted Wagon ride is similar to the Barn of Terror in the use of effects and actors, except now you and 20 people are sitting in the back of a wagon. The ride starts at a tremendous pace until you get to a secluded area, where the experts at Saunders have put together some especially spooky scenes. We don’t want to spoil all of the surprises, but if being chased in a dark field freaks you out, you might want to pass on this one.
The cash you brought along will be good for more than just the admission fee. There are plenty of places to grab food, and if you feel like turning the fun factor up even more, Beau’s beer is served on site. For some additional monies you can also play with the corn canons! From a platform you get to wield one of these propane powered toys, which will launch a cob of corn more than 400 feet at targets set out over a pond. It is addictively fun, so be prepared to wait around while your date relives their childhood.
Don’t worry if your date gets pre-occupied with the corn canons, there are plenty of eligible suitors around.
There you have it: Saunders Farm is the perfect place to wear orange and black while looking cuter than a jack-o-lantern. Go check it out before the haunting season’s over, and hustle into Roadtrip before these sweet pieces disappear!
-The Tripster
