Fall Destinations
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2C Monday, August 29, 2016
Fall Destinations
Several festivals set for fall
Don Nelson designs and creates an election-themed corn maze every four years, as a way to encourage people to vote. This year will be no exception. The maze will be open the end of September through the end of October. SUBMITTED PHOTO
Amazing corn mazes at Litchfield farm
BY STARRLA CRAY Associate Editor
What does it take to create a corn maze?
Don Nelson, owner of Nelson Farm in Litchfield, knows that the process starts long before stalks are tall and tasseling.
“ We’ ve been doing this for many years,” he said, noting that the mazes are part of the farm’ s annual Pumpkin Patch Festival, which runs the last weekend in September through the last weekend in October.
Nelson’ s first maze, in 1998, featured a smiling person who had one hand waving in the air. The second year had“ Go Vikes” written in the corn, along with a picture of a Viking. Other years have included everything from Smokey Bear to a remembrance of the 9 / 11 terrorist attack victims.
“ We have many options, of course – as many as your brain can come up with,” Nelson said.“ We had a pig last year, for the pork industry, and we’ ve had the dairy industry in the past.”
Every four years, Nelson does an election theme.
“ This year’ s will say‘ Vote 2016’ and in the corn maze, we’ ll have signs with ideas of why people should vote,” he said.
Spring and summer
Planting the 5-acre maze is similar to planting a normal field of corn, except the rows are planted in both directions.
“ This means we can have a grid that’ s exactly 30 inches square,” Nelson explained.“ We use to have grids every 40 feet, but that’ s changed through the years so we can be more exact.”
Getting the design to look right takes calculation and planning.
“ We start laying out the pattern when the corn is just coming through the ground,” Nelson said.“ We take out the corn that’ s part of the design.”
This is done with garden tractors and cultivators, as well as by hand with hoes.
“ We usually have about four people working on it,” Nelson said.
He’ s never kept track of the hours spent, but said this step usually takes about three weeks of intermittent work.
‘ To see people having fun in it, that’ s the best part.’
– Don Nelson, corn maze creator for the Nelson Farm Pumpkin Patch Festival
But the job doesn’ t stop there.
“ We need to keep the weeds out of there,” Nelson said.“ We constantly work on that, basically all summer.”
An aerial photo of the maze is taken each summer, just before the corn tassels.
Finally fall
Before visitors arrive, Nelson’ s team hides clothespins in the maze.
“ If people find one, we usually give them a free bag of mini donuts,” Nelson said.
Nelson said he thinks this year’ s maze is going to be one of the more challenging ones to navigate. He tries not to make them too difficult, though, in order to give people time to experience the other activities at the Pumpkin Patch Festival, as well.
After the festival’ s last weekend, the field is harvested.
“ It’ s never a good crop,” Nelson said, noting that there are bare spots from the design, and from people walking through.
However, Nelson is happy to reap a different kind of harvest each year.
“ It’ s made for fun, and for people to get in the corn,” he said.“ To see people having fun in it, that’ s the best part.”
Performers danced together at last year’ s Red Rooster Days.
PHOTO BY MICHELE MUNSON
BY BRIANNA MATHIAS Editorial Intern
Not too long from now, leaves will be falling, temperatures will drop, and pumpkinflavored versions of everything will start hitting the shelves.
Though summer may be ending, and sweater weather fast-approaching, there are still several festivals planned for the upcoming months.
Red Rooster Days
Dassel’ s 57th annual Red Rooster Days celebration will take place Sept. 3-5 this year.
At the Dassel Ball Park will be the state’ s largest chicken barbeque. Tickets, both advance and at the gate, are $ 9.
The Red Rooster fine arts show will take place at the Dassel History Center over the course of the festival.
A bike ride, as well as 5- and 1-mile walks will take place.
More information and details about registration and entries can be found online at http:// dassel. com / city-of-dassel / redrooster-days /.
Renaissance Festival
The Minnesota Renaissance Festival will take place weekends until Oct. 2. in Shakopee.
Each weekend has a specific theme.
• Sept. 3-5 – Passport to Adventure
• Sept. 10-11 – Wine, chocolate, and romance
• Sept. 17-18 – Pet fest
• Sept. 24-25 – Shamrocks and Shenanigans
• Sept. 30 – Festival Friday
• Oct. 1-2 – Oktoberfest
This year, new events include the King’ s Karpool, Throne of Swords, Ménage a Trois Wine Bar, Vikings Encampment, 50 free family activities, Wizards Flight School Zip Line, whiskey and scotch tastings, craft cocktails, and Bust Duster Bingo.
Stary Olsa, a medieval Belarusian band, will also debut at the festival this year. More information is online at http:// renaissancefest. com /.
Loretto Fun Fest
Loretto’ s annual Fun Fest is scheduled for Saturday, Sept.
10 this year. Starting at 3 p. m. at the Loretto Ballfields, market vendors will serve food, and the medallion hunt will begin.
Kids play free again this year.
From 3-7 p. m. the following activities will take place:
• Inflatables – 23-foot slide, toddler playground, bounce house, and the log sweeper.
• 25 foot-rock climbing wall
• Kiddie train
• Face painting
• Henna Tattoos
• Caricatures
• Gonzo the Clown
• KRWC road show
• K-9 demonstration
• North Aircare Helicopter visit.
Throughout the festival, there will be opportunities to donate to local organizations. Fireworks begin at dusk.
St. Mary’ s Beer Festival
To raise funds for St. Mary’ s Care Center in Winsted, a beer festival takes place each year. This year, the event is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 10.
The beer fest will take place rain or shine. Big tents will be set up to keep those in attendance shaded and dry.
Hammerschlagen, an old German game, will be available. Live music will be provided by the South 40 Band, and others.
MN Arboretum
A few events will also take
place at the Arboretum in Chaska this fall.
Nordic walking will be Tuesday, Sept. 6 and Tuesday, Oct. 4, at 1 p. m. and 6 p. m at the Oswald Visitor Center.
This Scandinavian technique of using poles while hiking is a growing trend for hikers who want to increase upper body strength.
Two honeybee drawing classes will take place Saturday, Sept. 24. The first class from 9 a. m. to 1 p. m. will teach graphite techniques. The second class from 2 to 6 p. m. will use colored pencil.
For more events, and registration information, visit http:// www. arboretum. umn. edu.
This corn maze of a smiling pumpkin commemorated the 25th year of the Nelson Farm Pumpkin Patch Festival in 2014.
SUBMITTED PHOTO
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