Here’s where to find pumpkin patches, corn mazes and haunted houses in the Wichita area

A year ago, the only masks you had to worry about at Halloween were the ones showing off your secret identity.

Now, in the wake of coronavirus, new Halloween traditions are being constructed that keep social distancing, crowd sizes, sanitization and facemasks at the forefront.

Many of the longtime Halloween-related activities, whether they be haunted houses, corn mazes or pumpkin patches, have been cancelled this year. Others are scaled back from what has been done in other years.

Tanganyika Wildlife Park, which in previous years had oversized figures, escape rooms and laser tag events, is scaling back this year to trick or treating on Halloween weekend.

“Trick or treating is going to look a lot different for kids this year, so we wanted to be able to supply some safe and family-friendly opportunity for them to trick or treat,” assistant director Matt Fouts said. “If they don’t want to come to peoples’ houses, they can at least come to the park and get a little bit of trick or treating in for the season.”

As with other events at Tanganyika, entry will be at staggered times and employees will keep all areas sanitized.

Fouts said because of changes at the park this year, including opening a splash park this summer and the big fundraising gala that had to move from June to August, it wasn’t feasible to keep up with a big Halloween production.

“My team has been so wonderful through the years in making things happen and adjusting to whatever we need to do,” he said. “Of course, this was a bigger adjustment than normal.”

While many haunted activities hit the pause button this year, Warehouse of Terrors near Milton is keeping its Saturday-night frights right on schedule.

“We had to really think it over whether we were going to do it,” Ron Daerr said of his 10th year of operating the former furniture store turned terror warehouse. “We figured the way we do it – spreading people apart, small groups and things like that – we thought we could minimize the exposure.”

Plastic barriers will keep parties from intersecting, he said. Smaller groups of family and friends are encouraged.

“Our main objective is that we don’t add to the problem, we give them an outlet for recreation and it’s not really causing any harm,” Daerr added.

Pumpkin patches

Klausmeyer Dairy Farm and Pumpkin Patch, 8135 S. 119th St. W., Clearwater. Open through Nov. 1, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. daily. Hours for the glow in the dark zombie paintball and evening corn maze are 7-10 p.m. Fridays, noon to 10 p.m. Saturdays and noon to 6 p.m. Sundays.

Activities include corn maze, sorghum maze, barrel rides, a haunted barn, pony rides and gem mining.

Admission: Pumpkin patch $8 a person on Saturdays and Sundays, $7 Mondays through Fridays, corn maze $6, pumpkin patch/corn maze combo $13 on weekends, $10 on weekdays, free for 2 and younger. Additional cost for some activities. 316-706-5391 or klausmeyerdairyfarms.com

Marietta Farm, 1600 E U.S. HWY 54, Andover. Opens Friday through Oct. 31, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Mondays through Fridays, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays.

Activities include corn pit, playground, grass maze, wagon rides, live animals, hay bale bowling, jumping activities, pumpkin slingshots, pumpkin cannon, paintball and train rides.

Admission: $5 on weekdays, $7 on weekends, free for 2 and younger. Additional cost for some activities. 316-227-1563 or mariettafarm.com

Walters’ Pumpkinfest, 10001 NW U.S. HWY 77, Burns. Now open through Nov. 1. Hours: 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Wednesdays-Sundays and and 1-7 p.m. Sundays. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

Activities include daytime corn maze at no additional cost, play areas, Tiny Town, hay rides to the pumpkin patch, train rides, pumpkin slingshot and cannon and a two-story treehouse. From 7-9 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays the pumpkin patch will open for night activities, which include the $10 flashlight maze and the $20 Haunted Cannery with hayride. This year’s corn maze features the logo of the Kansas City Chiefs.

Admission: $8 from 3-7 p.m. Wednesdays; $10 on Wednesdays-Fridays; $15 Saturdays and Sundays, free for ages 2 and younger, packages and season passes available. Additional cost for some activities. 316-320-4150 or thewaltersfarm.com

P and M Pumpkin Ranch, 311 16th Ave., Moundridge. Opens Saturday through Nov. 1 plus weekend of Nov. 6-8. Hours: 10 a.m. - 7 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays; 4-7 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays. Closed on Mondays.

Activities include sports barn, western themed playground, pedal karts, pig races, corn maze, train rides, corn and pumpkin cannons and feeding animals.

Admission: $9.50, free for ages 2 and younger. Pumpkins not included in the price of admission. Additional cost for some activities. 620-345-3103 or pandmpumpkinranch.com

Applejack Pumpkin Patch, 10007 SW Indianola Road, Augusta. Opens Saturday through Oct. 31. Hours: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesdays-Fridays; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturdays and noon-6 p.m. Sundays. Closed Mondays and Tuesdays.

Activities include hayrides, corn maze, duck races, petting zoo, pedal cars, train rides, obstacle course, paintball and pumpkin cannon.

Admission: $10, free for 2 and under, military and senior citizens receive 50 percent off with ID. Additional cost for some activities. 316-733-8909 or applejackpumpkinpatch.com

Mr. Gourdman’s Pumpkin Patch, 3750 S Dusty Road, Derby. Opens Oct. 2 through the end of October. Hours: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sundays and by appointment on weekdays for groups.

Activities include corn maze, tractor ride, fishing, playground areas and canoes.

Admission: $7, $5 with military ID, free for 3 and under. 316-733-1887 or wichitaspumpkinpatch.com

Meadowlark Farm, 11249 SW 160th St., Rose Hill. Open through Nov. 3, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays- Sundays, closed on Mondays and Tuesdays and by appointment for groups during the off hours.

Activities include pumpkin and apple picking and a nature walk. Hard apple cider and other goods are available for purchase at the on-site store.

Admission: $2 per person for those over age 12. Pumpkins picked at the patch are 50 cents per pound; 65 cents in the Meadowlark store. Hayrack ride to the pumpkin patch is free for five or more riders. 316-518-8907 or themeadowlarkfarm.com

Cedar Creek Pumpkin Patch, 6100 N 119th St. W, Maize. Opens Saturday through Oct. 31, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Tuesdays-Thursdays, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Fridays-Sundays and closed on Mondays.

Activities include barrel train, corn maze, petting zoo and pony rides. Pumpkins are 65 cents per pound.

Admission: $10, free for 2 and under. Additional cost for some activities. 316-295-8718 or cedarcreekict.com

Haunted attractions

Field of Screams and Escape Shack, Prairie Pines, 4055 N. Tyler Road, Maize. Gates open at 7 p.m. Tickets sales stop at 11:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 10:30 p.m. Sundays. Open Fridays and Saturdays through Oct. 31. Tickets: $17-$25. All tickets are timed reservations. Not recommended for children younger than 8. Weather-delay hotline: 316-303-2037.

The Haunted Cannery, 10001 NW U.S. 77 near El Dorado (at Walter’s Pumpkin Patch). Open Oct. 2-31. Hours: 8-11 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays. Activities include the Hayride, the Haunted Cannery and the Lunatic Asylum attractions. Admission: $20, $40 for fast pass; “Scaredy-pants” upgrade for $4. Face masks are required.

Wicked Island Haunted Forest, 3022 S. McLean Blvd. at O.J. Watson Park. Open Oct. 2-31. Hours: 8 p.m.-midnight Fridays and Saturdays. Admission: $20; $15 ages 12 and younger general admission, $25 adults and $20 children for timed tickets purchased online. $35 for a fast pass to the head of the line. 316-684-5991 or wickedwoodswichita.com

Warehouse of Terrors, 1640 W. 140th Ave. N., Milton. Open from 8-11 p.m. Saturdays in October. An old furniture store is remade into a warehouse of terrors. Not recommended for young children. Admission: $25. 316-371-4532 or warehouseofterrorsk42.com

Halloween Laser Spooktacular, Exploration Place, 300 N. McLean Blvd. Laser show includes singalongs to “Monster Mash,” “Ghostbusters” and “Purple People Eater,” as well as floating laser caricatures and animations of legendary Halloween personalities. Oct. 16-31. Times to be announced. .

Halloween events

Field Station: Dinosaurs, 2999 N. Rock Road, Derby: Dinosaurs after Dark, 7-9 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Oct. 4-31. Young explorers can trace paranormal activity going on at the Field Station during a darkened trail our that includes “some of the most recognizable movie monsters of all time.” Cost: $12 for ages 12 and up, pay your age for those 12 and younger. More information: 855-833-3466 or kansasdinos.com

Old Cowtown Museum, 1865 W. Museum Blvd., has “Cowtown Under the Stars,” from 6-10 p.m. Friday, Oct. 2, features ghost tours and more. Admission is $6 per person, kids 4 and younger and Cowtown members free. The County Fair at Cowtown, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 3 includes the atmosphere of an 1870s county fair, with friendly competition including a pie eating contest and tug of war, as well as a vintage base ball game. Admission: $9 for adults, $8 for seniors (ages 62+), $7 for youth ages 12-17, $6 for kids ages 5-11, free for kids 4 and younger and Cowtown members. Boo and Brews, from 7 p.m. to midnight Oct. 9, features an open saloon as well as ghost tours from the Wichita Paranormal Research Society and a Victorian séance. Admission is $15 per person – 18 to enter, 21 to drink.

Chapin Park, 2400 E. MacArthur Road: Come Fly a Kite, noon-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 3. There will be hands-on instructions and kite-flying demonstrations from Wings of the Wind kite store. Bring your own kites or buy a $5 kite on-site. Admission: free. More information: wichita.gov/ParkandRec

Tanganyika Wildlife Park, 1000 S. Hawkins Lane, Goddard: Events are scaled back this year to trick-or-treating throughout the park from 4-6 p.m. Friday, Oct. 30; 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Halloween; and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 1. Free with admission -- $24.99-$49.99 for all ages 12 and older. www.twpark.com.

Marietta Farm, 1600 E. U.S. 54, Andover. Activities include a corn pit, playground, grass maze, picture backgrounds, inflatable bouncer, tire swings, live animals, water races, wagon rides, tricycle races, games, a hay bale barnyard, milkable wooden dairy cow, pumpkin house, hay bale bowling, teeter-totters and zipline, all for free; a corn cannon, cow train and pumpkin slingshot for one ticket; train ride, pumpkin cannon and paintball for three tickets; and the bungee bouncer for 10 tickets. Tickets are $1, 25 for $20 or 100 for $75. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekends. Cost is $5 per person weekdays, $7 per person weekends. Children 2 and younger free.

Stearman Airfield, 14789 SW 30th St., Benton: 8th Annual Pumpkin Drop, 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24. Airplanes drop pumpkins onto targets below starting at 1 p.m., with a kids costume contest at 3:30 p.m. Bring lawn chairs and blankets to have a seat outside the restaurant. Cost: free. More information: 316-778-1612 or stearmanbarandgrill.com/events

Halloween Laser Spooktacular at Exploration Place, 300 N. McLean Blvd. A new laser light show opens in Exploration Place’s Digital Dome Theater on Friday, Oct. 16 and continues through Halloween. Admission: adults ages 12-64, $5; youth ages 3-11, $3; seniors 65 and older, $4.

This story was originally published September 26, 2020 at 5:03 AM.