It may not entirely feel like autumn yet, but the LSU AgCenter Botanical Gardens is helping Baton Rouge get into the fall spirit with a night full of festivities.
The event, known as Night Maze, has taken place for 15 years and is best known for its exciting photo-ops and, of course, the signature corn maze. To conclude the final opening night, the AgCenter is hosting Night Maze on Friday, Oct. 24.
Organizers at the AgCenter are expecting a turnout of over 1,500 people in attendance. Night Maze will feature live music from local band T’Monde and concessions from local vendors. Event attendees can expect to see a petting zoo, a pumpkin patch and a campfire where you can roast marshmallows.
Malorey Uzee, communications coordinator at the AgCenter Botanical Gardens, described the corn maze as a true family-friendly event. She believes that events like these are a great time for families to enjoy time together outdoors.
“We see so many different people come out to the corn maze,” Uzee said. “And I think that providing people spaces like this to actually go outside and see nature, be in nature, see things like an actual field of corn — it kind of helps people understand the importance of going outside.”
Over the years, the event has transformed from a simple cornfield to an expansive celebration with camp fires, food trucks and a new pumpkin house photo-op created by the staff.
“We have a lot of people actually come to the corn maze just to take pictures, especially some of that young adult and late teen crowd,” Uzee said. “We see a lot of people get dressed up just to come take photos, and a lot of times they go straight to the pumpkin patch. And so I think maybe that’s one thing that sets ours apart — it makes for such a great photo op.”
Uzee explained that the corn for the maze is planted later than usual to ensure that the corn is green and still on the stalk. This year’s maze is in the shape of a spider.
Volunteers are a crucial aspect of the corn maze. From helping out with the pumpkin patch to assisting in the petting zoo, volunteers are able to sign up and help out with tasks through the event.
“We always say that our event couldn’t really run without our volunteers, because they help us with a lot of stuff,” Uzee said. “Since we do have so many different areas, those volunteers are really crucial.”
The Night Maze takes plenty of time and preparation to ensure that everything is up to standard. Planning for this event started back in June, and all of that hard work is done to make sure that the Night Maze is successful for the Botanical Garden.
“This event typically sells out every year. So that’s kind of how we measure it was a success: if we sell out, then we did pretty good.” Uzee said.
Whether you’re looking to snap some pictures at the pumpkin patch or see how long it takes you to escape the corn maze, Maze Night is the perfect time to enjoy the autumn season before it’s too late. This exciting event has something fun for everyone.
