Ghosts, goblins and ghouls – and aliens – are especially thrilled this year with the multitude of Halloween activities available to unsuspecting children in the Hollister area, including Swank Farms Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch near the Hollister Municipal Airport.
Opened on Oct. 4, the corn maze is turning out to be quite “maniacal” as children and parents alike try to complete the “Maniac Maze,” where 27 sign posts are scattered throughout the 33-acre maze with words that help complete a “maniacal” story.
But if “maniacal” is just too much for you, you can settle for the Spookley Maze, which was designed for younger children in mind.
Each year, the events have different themes. This year’s theme is “alien invasion,” said Andrew Kistler, a staff member at Swank Farms, and son of Bonnie Swank who runs the farm and corn maze.
The haunted attraction – known as “Terror in the Corn, Alien Invasion” – is open on the weekends at night.
The corn maze is in its 14th year, he said, and kids from as far away as San Francisco come to visit the hay-baled farm. Swank decided to bring in a local theater production manager, Sally Hail, to help produce the “Alien Invasion” maze this year, she said in a phone interview Tuesday. She said the new production is like a “show” with a story, which differs from previous years. She said the show had become “stale” in recent years.
“It’s really turning things around,” she said. “We definitely have the buzz we used to have.”
In addition to the corn mazes, Kistler said the pedal carts and jumping pillow (a giant orange and yellow elastic bounce placed in the ground) seem to be kids’ favorite attractions.
“It’s been a good season,” he said. “Weather’s been great.”
He estimated that 10,000-plus visitors could end up coming to the farm during the season.
“That’s my low estimate. That’s my Price is Right estimate,” he said.
Between 50 to 60 people from the community staff the attraction during the season, he said.
Swank Farms made a few changes to this year’s activities, including a make-over of the Kiddy Corral, a brand new Chalk Board House (where children paint with chalk all over the inside of this house), expanded play areas, new corn boxes and new bouncing horses, according to the website.
The mazes, however, continue to be the largest attraction, Swank said. She said that there were double lines of people waiting to buy tickets for the maze last Saturday night.
“We have not seen one unhappy person come out of there (the maze),” Swank said, adding that that was not always the case.
She said the facility has “something for everybody” and hopes everybody can make it out.
“Even a lot of grandfathers and grandmothers come,” she said.
MORE HALLOWEEN IN HOLLISTER:
Creatures of the Night Hike: Sat., Oct. 26, Hollister Hills SVRA
Casa de Fruta Pumpkin Junction: Now until Oct. 31, Casa de Fruta
7th Annual Children’s Halloween Block Party: Thurs., Oct. 31, downtown San Juan Bautista
Annual Severinsen Street Halloween Block Party: Thurs., Oct. 31, 5:00-8:00 p.m., Severinsen Street
Hollister Black Jacks: Fri.-Sun., 4-10 p.m., 542 San Benito Benito Street; also, Wed. & Thurs., 4-10 p.m.
