The MAiZE at Little Darby Creek is opening for its 25th season on Saturday, Sept. 26, bringing back its haunted barn and pumpkin patch while debuting an eight-acre corn maze that pulls double duty as a tribute to both the farm's anniversary and America's 250th birthday.
The family-owned Union County attraction, located outside Milford Center, has grown considerably since it first cut a corn maze and opened a pumpkin patch back in 2002, according to WSYX. What started with a corn maze and pumpkin patch has expanded into more than 30 attractions, including farm animals, seasonal food and drinks, special events, and the haunted Field of Fright.
An 8-Acre Design Honoring Two Milestones
This year's centerpiece maze design combines two milestones: America's 250th birthday and The MAiZE's own 25th season, per the same report. The eight-acre layout gives visitors a chance to walk through a puzzle that doubles as a nod to the farm's own quarter-century run and the country's semiquincentennial, all in one field of stalks.
The 2026 season runs from Sept. 26 through Oct. 31, according to a calendar listing from wcol.iheart.com. That gives visitors more than a month to work through the maze, wander the pumpkin patch, and check out the animals before the farm wraps up its fall run on Halloween.
New For 2026: A Tiny Cow And A Barnyard Ride
Two new experiences are joining the farm's lineup this year, Barnyard Rail Riders and Highland Hugs Animal Encounters, the same calendar listing notes. The animal encounter lets guests get up close with Fiona, described as a micro Highland cow, in a small-group setting rather than a general petting-zoo crowd.
After dark, the farm gets a frightening transformation for the Field of Fright, which is scheduled for select Friday and Saturday nights from Oct. 9 through Oct. 31 and includes a haunted corn maze and haunted barn, per the same listing. It's the after-hours counterpart to the daytime family activities, aimed at visitors looking for a scarier fall outing.
Beyond The Maze: Weddings And A Statewide Scene
The MAiZE's ambitions have grown past seasonal foot traffic. The farm now also offers weddings and corporate events on the property, according to mazeandberries.com, and is currently booking weddings for May through Labor Day in both 2026 and 2027.
The MAiZE at Little Darby Creek is one of dozens of similar attractions dotting the state each fall. The Ohio Corn Maze Trail lists 57 corn mazes across Ohio, according to ohio.org, putting Union County's 25-year-old attraction among a crowded field of seasonal competitors statewide.
The farm is located at 8657 Axe Handle Road in Milford Center, according to a guide from nwcolumbus.macaronikid.com, placing it within driving distance of the Columbus area for families looking to mark the start of fall.
