Autumn calls for fun with pumpkins

Come fall each year, this working cattle and educational farm whoops it up with seasonal celebrations. The star attraction is its sprawling, seven-acre corn maze, which gets a new design annually. This year’s theme is breast cancer awareness. The words “Save the Udders” are cut into the field along with images of a cow and the breast cancer awareness ribbon. Winding paths and dead ends fill the maze, as does the laughter of puzzled guests. If you decide on an evening excursion, pack a flashlight. The staff says the closer it gets to Halloween, you may find spooky characters hiding in the maze providing extra chills and thrills. Other attractions pack the farm including hayrides across Southern Belle’s 200 acres. Take a look inside Oinker Stadium, a place where the resident pigs race each other. By mid-October the cotton found in the farm’s cotton field is ready for picking, and visitors are invited to give it a try. Kids stay busy with pumpkin painting, taking shots with the corn cannon, hopping aboard the cow train and more. Refuel at MiMi’s Kitchen, the on-site restaurant, with corn dogs, fried dill pickles, funnel cakes and other guilty pleasures. Special events throughout October include Hometown Hero Day (Oct. 8), Bluegrass & Bonfire (Oct. 15), the Lads & Lassies square dance club performance (Oct. 16), Farm Heritage Day & Antique Tractor Show (Oct. 22) and the Fall Festival (Oct. 29). The latter features an appearance by Doodle The Clown, a kids costume contest and live music.

10 a.m.-10 p.m. Saturdays; 1-6 p.m. Sundays. Through Nov. 6. $12; $10 ages 65 and older; ages 2 and younger free. Southern Belle Farm, 1658 Turner Church Road, McDonough. 770-288-2582, www.southernbellefarm.com.

CANTON

Cagle’s Family Farm

This popular attraction commemorates its 11th year of creating corn mazes with a corn field design serving as a memorial to the lives lost on 9-11. A bird’s-eye view reveals the twin towers, the Statue of Liberty and the phrases “Fallen But Not Forgotten” and “God Bless America” carved into the maze. These designs and more provide the three miles of paths found within the maze. Organizers say the maze takes approximately one hour to navigate. Visitors can easily spend an entire day exploring the grounds. Guests are invited to take a farm tour (Saturdays and Sundays), experience a a bonfire hayride (Fridays and Saturdays), catch air on the massive jumping pillow and brave the Haunted Barn (Fridays and Saturdays through Oct. 29). All ages can explore oodles of pumpkins for a possible purchase. If all that activity works up an appetite, grab concessions including barbecue, hot chocolate, hot dogs and hamburgers.

5-11 p.m. Fridays; 10 a.m.-11 p.m. Saturdays; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sundays. Through Nov. 13. $7-$12 per attraction; $15-$28 combination tickets. Cagle’s Family Farm, 362 Stringer Road, Canton. 770-345-5591, www.caglesfamilyfarm.com.

GAINESVILLE

The Kinsey Family Farm

Whether you’re shopping for a pumpkin to carve or transform into a delectable pie, the Kinsey clan has plenty for the picking. Its wide range of pumpkins, numbering in the thousands, come in a variety of colors. Of course, you have orange, but keep an eye out for those sporting red, white and brushed nickel shades. Stop in the farm store for edible pumpkins, including orange pie pumpkins and Jarrahdale pumpkins, which are blue-green on the outside and orange in the center. Fresh apples, gourds, corn stalks, honey, salsa and more can be found in the fall harvest shop. The farm grounds are open every day in October, and guests are welcome to hang out by the catfish pond, enjoy the rolling hills, bring lunch and dine on of the available picnic tables. Hitch a hayride around the farm for $2 per person. Rides are free for ages 2 and younger. Kids are allowed to feed the fish in the catfish pond with a $1 bag of food available for purchase. The nearby animal barn serves as home to a host of traditional critters including Radar the donkey and Shortcake, a Strawberry Roan pony.

9 a.m.-6 p.m. daily through Oct. 31. Free. The Kinsey Family Farm, 7170 Jot-em Down Road, Gainesville. 770-887-6028, www.kinseyfamilyfarm.com.

STONE MOUNTAIN

9th Annual Pumpkin Festival

This month-long event honors the season and specifically the round, orange fruit in question. Interactive events and shows take place in the Crossroads section of the park. Lucky audience members get a chance to be a part of Pumpkin Palooza, a challenge-filled game show at the Dogwood Entertainment Venue. Both kids and adults participate in scavenger hunts. Parents and their tots can hop in line for the Great Pumpkin Puppet Parade. Those who want to get in on the act can grab a pumpkin puppet or don a costume. The latter is encouraged, but not required. Participants must show up 10 minutes before the parade steps off at the Dogwood Entertainment Venue. The parades run 3 p.m. Fridays and Sundays, and 1 and 4 p.m. Saturdays. A costume contest follows the 3 p.m. parade on Fridays and Sundays, and the 4 p.m. parade on Saturdays. Other events include storytelling, a pumpkin-eating contest and more. An 8 p.m. lasershow wraps up the festivities on Saturdays.

10 a.m.-5 p.m. Fridays and Sundays; 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturdays. Through October 30. $27; $21 ages 3-11; $10 parking. Stone Mountain Park, 1000 Robert E. Lee Drive, Stone Mountain. 770-498-5690, www.stonemountainpark.com.

MIDTOWN

Atlanta Botanical Garden

Need a little inspiration before digging into this year’s Halloween pumpkin? The Great Chefs of Atlanta Pumpkin-Carving Contest could be the muse you’re looking for. Now in its third year, the competition gathers local kitchen kings including chef Tony Alberto (Mabuhay Atlanta Master Art Studio), chef Victor Dagatan (Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead), chef Joey Bridgers (Babette’s Cafe) and chef Kevin Ouzts (The Spotted Trotter). Armed with knives and power tools, the chefs duke it out for 25 minutes to see who can create the best masterpiece from their respective giant pumpkins. Audience applause will help decide the winner, and the carved pumpkins will be sold during a silent auction following the contest. The competition is part of Fest-of-Ale, held from 5-10 p.m., so come early. Bring a flashlight and trek through the Scarecrows in the Garden exhibit. More than 100 stuffed creations line the woodland and children’s gardens.

7 p.m. Oct. 27. $18.95; $12.95 ages 3-17; free ages 2 and younger, and garden members. Atlanta Botanical Garden, 1345 Piedmont Ave. N.E., Atlanta. 404-876-5859, www.atlantabotanicalgarden.org.

More pumpkin fun

Jaemor Farms Corn Maze. Through Nov. 6. $10; ages 3-9, $9. Jaemor Farm Market, 5340 Cornelia Hwy., Alto. 770-869-3999, www.jamsjellies.com.

Uncle Shuck's Corn Maze and Pumpkin Patch. Through Nov. 20. $10; ages 4 and under free; $13 combo ticket. Uncle Shuck's Corn Maze, 4525 Ga. 53 E., Dawsonville. 1-888-674-8257, www.uncleshucks.com.

Corn Dawg Corn Maze. Through Nov. 6. $12; $10 ages 3-9; 2 and younger free. Corn Dawgs Corn Maze & Family Fun Park, 955 Leone Ave., Loganville. 770- 786-9000, www.corndawgs.com.