Haunted House and Halloween Fun

The haunted house is free to those that dare to enter

I, for one, am scared! I go through the Valley View Farms haunted house to see what the people in our Halloween shop have put together, knowing exactly where the entrance and exit is before stepping inside. On weekends, watching kids get up the nerve to enter would provide an interesting case study for psychologists. Brave moms and dads offer to go with them. It is the moms' screams that can be heard through the greenhouse as they get about half way through the various 'rooms'.

It was really dark in here...until the camera flash went off

The younger children that aren't up to the haunted house weave themselves through a kid-friendly straw maze instead.

Parents watch kids meander through the maze

Going through the tunnel at the beginning of the maze

Family photo ops abound; many stand with the large 1540 pound pumpkin, others put their faces through the halloween board.

Aren't they cute?

And, many head back to the Halloween Shop to get their faces painted. Everyone seems to have fun. 

Sara does face painting; all donations go to The WBAL Radio Kids Campaign

Happy 'Owloween' .

The Great Horned Owl at Valley View

Kathy Woods joined us on a spectacular autumn day with an owl from her Phoenix Wildlife Center.
The Great Horned Owl was a hit with many of the people, especially the kids, who had stopped by to pick out pumpkins.

Kathy Woods with The Great Horned Owl

Kathy was joined by intern Melissa and Melissa's friend Brian. The three of them engaged the children and adults on various owl topics including what owls ate, (mice, skunks and other small mammals), how large a wingspan owls have (really large), and all sorts of other owl tidbits.

To keep up with all the happenings at Phoenix Wildlife Center, join them on facebook or check out their website for some fabulous photos of the animals at the center. Phoenix Wildlife Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to the rehabilitation and return to the wild of native wildlife. Kathy and her group are also dedicated to the education of the public on wildlife issues. Thanks again to Kathy for making the day a special learning experience for so many animal lovers at Valley View Farms.

That's a Lot of Pies!



Pumpkin characters created by Carey Wilkerson



Every year, Vally View Farm's owners Billy and Andy Foard and Matt Stromberger  travel "up the river" in search of The Great Pumpkin. Back in 1989, Gordon Thompson had grown the largest pumpkin ever; it weighed in at seven hundred and fifty-five pounds and was featured on our stage in Cockeysville, MD garnering worldwide attention. Fast forward to Wednesday, October 6 when one of the largest pumpkins ever grown will be unveiled at Valley View Farms at 10:00 am.

You've got to see it to believe it!

We've sent out the press releases to our areas news organizations, so you're sure to see it on TV and hear about it on the radio, but nothing compares to meeting this Mammoth up close and personal. This gargantuan pumpkin has been named Rolling Thunder. Bring the kids and the camera, see other really, really big pumpkins and join in on the fun. We have a straw maze for young children and a scary haunted house for older kids and brave adults. And, we're celebrating fall with mums, pumpkins, gourds, Indian corn and all sorts of other fall decorations.

By the way, this year's behemoth weighs 1540 pounds!