Co-owner Theresa Lassila reopens the Sequim Pumpkin Patch October 1, which includes the “Road to Oz” corn maze design. Last year, she didn’t grow the corn field because of costs but due to demand she had siblings Amanda and Eric Lawton design another. Photo by Dave Woodcock/Greywolf Photography

Co-owner Theresa Lassila reopens the Sequim Pumpkin Patch October 1, which includes the “Road to Oz” corn maze design. Last year, she didn’t grow the corn field because of costs but due to demand she had siblings Amanda and Eric Lawton design another. Photo by Dave Woodcock/Greywolf Photography

Corn maze returns to Sequim Pumpkin Patch

The 33-acre farm will be open from Saturday through Oct. 31 from noon to 6 p.m., except Oct. 28-29, when hours will be extended for night visits.

SEQUIM — Visitors can once again get lost in the land of Oz thanks to the Sequim Pumpkin Patch.

After a year off due to costs, co-owner Theresa Lassila said she’s reopened the corn maze after hearing so many requests to grow another.

The Pumpkin Patch, a 33-acre farm at the corner of U.S. Highway 101 and Kitchen-Dick Road, will be open from Saturday through Oct. 31. Hours will be from noon to 6 p.m. except Oct. 28-29, when hours will be extended for night visits to the maze.

Sister and brother Amanda and Eric Lawton designed this year’s “Road to Oz” maze in the 6.5-acre space, which costs $5 for youths 12 and younger to visit and $10 for those 13 and older.

Lassila said the maze hosts eight life-size cutouts of characters from Oz.

‘Community loves it’

Despite not hosting the maze last year, Lassila said she reopened the farm again for its 17th year because “the community loves it.”

“I just want to keep it going, and my dad loved it,” she said.

Her father, Phil Lassila, who died in January 2015, started the Pumpkin Patch in 1999. Lassila previously said her father felt strongly about the farm’s connection with the community.

To create the maze, the Lawtons design it on graph paper and with measurements in hand go into the corn field about a month before it is at its peak and spray paint where they want to cut.

They used a tractor tiller to cut the maze and smoothed it out later with machetes to take out excess leaves and branches.

Among the designs they’ve displayed — which can be seen only from the air — are a pumpkin, a cowboy boot and another “Wizard of Oz” scene.

Lassila said workers are in final preparations now, decorating and selecting pumpkins, cornstalks and gourds for the farm’s boardwalk and store. She’s already begun hosting groups such as local Boy Scout groups.

Along with the maze, the Pumpkin Patch will offer U-pick pumpkins for 50 cents a pound, a play area for children ($5), various animals and a pumpkin shoot, which costs $5 for two pumpkins and a chance at $100 if the pumpkin goes in the barrel.

Lassila said she hopes to bring in Jim Bower’s draft horses for rides, too, on weekends.

To schedule an appointment for field trips and parties, call Lassila at 360-461-0940.

________

Matthew Nash is a reporter with the Olympic Peninsula News Group, which is composed of Sound Publishing newspapers Peninsula Daily News, Sequim Gazette and Forks Forum. Reach him at mnash@sequimgazette.com.

More in Entertainment

Collage workshop set for Port Ludlow Art League meeting

Carol Nielsen and Pamela Raine will host a hands-on… Continue reading

Dance classes Saturday to honor longtime teacher

Drop-in dance classes, a flag retirement ceremony, concerts and stage performances highlight… Continue reading

The Wild Rose Chorale will present two concerts this weekend at Grace Lutheran Church. Singers are, from left, Pat Rodgers, Doug Rodgers, Chuck Helman, Al Thompson, Cherry Chenruk-Geelan, Mark Schecter, Sarah Gustner-Hewitt, Kris Lott, Leslie Lewis, Rolf Vegdahl, JES Schumacher, Lynn Nowak and Patricia Nerison. (Jo Tiffany)
Wild Rose Chorale to host weekend concerts

The Wild Rose Chorale will present “You’ll Be in… Continue reading

Tickets on sale for ‘Lion King Jr.’

Tickets for Ghostlight Productions’ “Lion King Jr.” are on sale.… Continue reading

Studium Generale to conclude with legacy of Paddle to Seattle

Peninsula College will finish this year’s Studium Generale schedule… Continue reading

Mary Marcial in the late 1990s.
Classes set to honor founder of Port Angeles Dance Center

Former dancers from the Port Angeles Dance Center will… Continue reading

Ken DeBuc, Toby Anderson and Anne Rutherford won the 2024 Liar’s Contest.
Liars Contest to be conducted at Field Hall on Thursday

The Story People of Clallam County will present its… Continue reading

“Adventuress Sunrise” by Mitchel Osborne is one of more than 50 artworks in Northwind Art’s online auction starting Monday. A pop-up gallery with all of the works on display is set for Tuesday and June 11 at the Cotton Building in Port Townsend. (Mitchel Osborne)
Art auction coming with Port Townsend pop-up gallery

Northwind Art will host its first Fundraising Art Auction… Continue reading

Northwind Art School teaching artist Meg Kaczyk, left, will host “Art Journaling through Change: In Community” on Sunday in Port Townsend. (Diane Urbani/Northwind Art)
Art Journaling class to be conducted Sunday

Port Townsend artist and teacher Meg Kaczyk will host… Continue reading

Stage productions, festival kick off weekend events

Monthly art walks, stage productions and a Maritime Festival highlight weekend events… Continue reading

Known for specializing in Japanese vinyl pressings, Vinny Robbins, Bremerton store owner of Beats N’ Cats Records, will return to the Sequim Record Show on Saturday as one of 25-plus vendors. He said Sequim seems to like heavy metal, hip-hop and jazz albums. (Vinny Robbins)
Sequim Record Show set for this weekend

Sale slated Saturday at Guy Cole Event Center

Rebekah Cadorette of Port Townsend will show her temari artwork at the Port Townsend Gallery during Saturday’s Art Walk and throughout June.
First Saturday Art Walk set for this weekend

The Alano Club, Gallery-9 and the Port Townsend Gallery… Continue reading