News Release Distributed 08/25/14

BATON ROUGE, La. – The LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden will roll out the fall welcome mat with a corn maze and pumpkin patch festival Sept. 27-28 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. in conjunction with the LSU Rural Life Museum’s Harvest Days.

“What better way for families to end the summer than with a trip to the farm during harvest season,” said Jeff Kuehny, director of the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden.

Visitors may purchase their tickets at the Rural Life Museum Visitors Center. Admission is $7 for corn maze activities in addition to LSU Rural Life Museum Harvest Days, which is $9 for persons age 12 years and older or $8 for those 62 years and older and children ages 6-11. Children under 5 enter free.

In addition to the corn maze, children’s activities will include an old-fashioned hayride, pumpkin and gourd painting, and an opportunity to climb a straw “mountain.” A new feature this year is the Red Barn petting zoo, Kuehny said.

As in the past, visitors may purchase food and drinks from Burden Horticulture Society volunteers as well as pumpkins for children to paint.

The corn maze and balloon toss also will be open Saturdays on Oct. 4, 11 and 18 from 4-7 p.m. with $5 admission. Children under 3 enter free.

Night Maze on Oct. 25 will feature a bonfire, hotdogs, s’mores and live music from 4-9 p.m., and organizers are encouraging flashlights and costumes that evening. Evening admission is $10. Children under 3 enter free.

The LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens is located in Burden Museum and Gardens on Essen Lane just off Interstate 10 in Baton Rouge. For further information, contact Kuehny at 225-763-3990 or go online.