Peak week to frequent Ard’s Farm Market
Peak week to frequent Ard's Farm Market
October 30, 2009
By Alex Anolik
Writer
Piercing shots from the corn cannon regularly punctuate the near-constant sound of children's laughter, while a goat climbed a series of inclined planes to reach a basket of food delivered to her from a pulley system. Teenagers chow down on cones overflowing with freshly churned ice cream. There's even a 95-foot tube slide that extends underground.
It's an all-out Halloween celebration at Ard's Farm Market on 4803 Old Turnpike Rd, Lewisburg.
Located about five miles west of the University, Ard's Farm runs many annual fall-themed activities for all ages and walks of life. A blonde sporting a Kappa Kappa Gamma tee-shirt waited in line behind an older gent with a Pink Floyd shirt who stubbed a cigarette. A group of thirty-something guys with fire department shirts laughed near a children's birthday party.
"People know this is good fun. We can get up to 8,000 visitors, depending on the weather," said Kyle Ard, owner of the farm and market with her husband Alan.
For $8, adults can get lost in the 7.5-acre maze park. Kyle Ard recommends going at night to maximize the spookiness.
"Make sure to bring a flashlight!" she warned.
Hay rides are $5 per person and include the cost of a pumpkin.
"I saw a pumpkin as big as me!" Keith Lewy '12 said. He visited Ard's for the first time Sunday.
There are other activities for visitors. They can wander around the vast expanse of the pumpkin patch, or chow down on some of the fresh food.
Many of the exhibits are child-oriented. Besides the corn cannon, goat rise and tube slide, the tile maze, fun boards, rope maze and animal feeding make Ard's a hot spot for birthday parties.
"I am happy my birthday is close to Halloween because I can have my party at Ard's Farm all the time," Timmy Gallaher, age seven, said.
There are still opportunities to attend this year's events. Most of them will stop operating Nov. 1, and some will extend into the following weekend. Rides are open Friday 4-9 p.m., Saturday 12-9 p.m. and Sunday 12-6 p.m..
