The Lethbridge Corn Maze has been getting people lost for decades.
Kids like Mia Baker don’t seem to mind.
“We first fed the animals and then we came in the maze, and we almost finished the maze, but then we got lost. We got lost a lot.”
Each year, the maze features a new design, straight from owner Theo Slingerland’s imagination.
“We have a new design this year, as we do every year. It’s a 10-acre corn maze that says, ‘Happy birthday Canada’ in there, because it’s the 150-year celebration.”
But Canada’s 150th isn’t the only important year that’s featured.
“1967 was also an important year, because then I was born… And also the University of Lethbridge was started, so we’ve got the ‘U of L 50 years’ in there as well!”
Slingerland says celebrating a Canadian sesquicentennial is important to him as an immigrant from the Netherlands.
“I’m privileged to live here… I’ve always been thankful to come to Canada.”
The petting zoo is a big draw. Slingerland says it gives people who don’t have access to farm animals the chance to feed and interact with them.
“It’s out on the farm, so it’s out of the city. A lot of people like that, especially with the animals.”
Young maze visitors seem to agree, inserting comments about the petting zoo.
“It’s really cool feeding the peacocks and stuff.”
The Lethbridge Corn Maze features several ways for visitors to find their way through and admission includes two other mazes, all designed by Slingerland.
“I always loved puzzling, even when I was little. For me and my mom, puzzling was one of our hobbies.”
Another hobby for Slingerland is collecting Christmas lights, in anticipation of a new December event.
“We’ve been collecting Christmas lights for seven or eight years,” Theo laughed. “We’re planning to do some hay rides and bonfires, too.”
The maze closes on Oct. 28 and the possible holiday re-opening will be announced through the webpage and social media.