Some Snohomish County families are questioning whether fall farm outings still fit their budgets after an irked mother said taking her children to a corn maze would cost at least $100.
Her post in the Snohomies Facebook group on Monday, Oct. 19, drew hundreds of comments and reactions, with residents sharing financial frustrations, defending farm operators and recommending cheaper alternatives.
“When did the corn mazes get so expensive? I was super stoked thinking I finally would be able to take my kiddos who have been begging to go since last year, but after searching everywhere it’s $100 on the cheap end just for us to go,” she wrote.
“I thought these were a family friendly thing to do during fall…”
Her estimate was for her family, not an individual ticket. The post did not specify how many people would attend or which admission packages she compared.
For some commenters, the conversation quickly became about more than pumpkins.
“I have cut out so many things because I cannot afford them,” one woman wrote, describing reductions in dining out, driving and hobbies as she tried to stretch her paycheck. “No pumpkin patch for us this year.”
Another said she had hoped to take her grandchildren out with their grandparents but could not afford it either.
“My heart truly goes out to the farmers that are struggling to stay alive, but my shrinking budget can’t do it either!” she wrote.
Families Push Back as Others Defend the Farms
Other participants argued that admission prices help cover the work and expense of running seasonal attractions.
One commenter pointed to staffing, training and the planning involved in creating a corn maze. Dan Manning, who said he owns several businesses, including a farm-based business, described the difficulty of keeping customer prices low while covering operating costs.
“It’s tough to be profitable these days while trying to keep the cost to customers low,” Manning wrote.
Some residents suggested that farms offer more discounted days or sell activities separately rather than requiring an all-inclusive wristband.
“It’d be so nice if families could plan to do JUST the corn maze, enjoy the atmosphere, get a treat or a pumpkin so their kids can get a taste of all the fun but not break the bank, or not afford to be able to go at all,” one woman wrote.
Free Entry and Cheaper Options Still Exist
The thread also highlighted an important distinction: entering a pumpkin patch can cost substantially less than buying admission to its attractions.
Carleton Farm’s published pricing lists free entry to its pumpkin patch, petting zoo, farm market and food area.
Its weekday corn maze and play-area admission is $10 per person. On weekends, a $15 ticket includes the corn maze, hayride and children’s attractions, while a $25 option adds two tickets for activities such as the paintball shooting gallery and apple cannons.
Bailey Farm in Snohomish also charges no admission, with visitors paying for the pumpkins and produce they pick. Its free children’s activities include hay bales, farm trikes and a sandbox.
Several commenters recommended Andrew’s Hay in Arlington and other smaller farms. Their suggestions also showed why families should check prices directly: some accounts reflected previous visits, and commenters occasionally gave different prices for the same destination.
Others described trimming the extras rather than abandoning the outing altogether.
For families planning a visit, the useful comparison is what admission actually includes: access to the patch, a corn maze, a bundle of attractions or a separately ticketed evening event.
Free farm entry and a paid festival wristband can produce very different totals.
Check out a list of Snohomish County pumpkin patches on Yelp.
