Area farms offer hayrides, corn mazes, and more during final two weekends before Halloween

It is a busy time of the year for Bi-Zi Farms.

Of course, it’s always Bi-Zi at this farm, right?

Yes, yes it is. However, from Thursday to Sunday of this week and against Thursday to Sunday of next week, well, just expect to have some company if you and the family want to enjoy the Pumpkin Patch and Harvest Festival.

“We like to think of it as a full family experience,” said Joe Zimmerman, who handles finance and marketing duties for the farm. “Everyone has something they enjoy. Whether it’s hayrides that are pulled by antique tractors, or live music, or the littles places we have where parents can rest their feet while their kids run and scream and jump and climb. It’s not just experiences for little kids. We’ve got experiences for everybody. Our hope is everybody comes out and has a good time.”

Dave and Crystal Edwards, along with their children Brooklyn, Haven, and Elliana, were the first in line to go on a hayride to the pumpkin patch this past Saturday.

“We’ve been coming here for 10 years, since her first Halloween,” Crystal said, referring to Brooklyn.

The normal custom for the family is to pet the farm animals first. Not this year. With 3-month-old Elliana, the Edwards family wanted to get out to the patch and pick pumpkins first. That way they could bring the pumpkins back to their car, then return to the rest of the Harvest Fest and be able to leave whenever Elliana had had enough excitement.

“It’s just always fun. So many things to do,” Dave said. “We’ve had a blast every year we’ve  come.”

The fest opens at 1 p.m. on Thursdays and Friday and 10 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. Cost is $15.95 for 3 and up, and $13.95 for those 62 and older as well as folks with military ID. Included in that cost: 

A hayride to the patch and a pumpkin. 

Admission to the corn maze

Two shots at the pumpkin launcher

One hot drink

A visit with farm animals

Live music on Saturdays and Sundays

Fresh apple cider sampling.

Also, children’s activities such as the bale maze, corn play area, the bale pyramid, pedal tractor driving, calf roping station, and more.

Oh, and there are night time maze opportunities for the daring on Friday and Saturday nights.

Kenneth and Kelsy Parker of Camas enjoyed the pumpkin launch with their children. Kaileigh, Kenneth Jr., Knox, and Kieran all took turns seeing how far they could make their pumpkins fly.

The family had gone to another farm that closed a few years ago. Then the Parkers found Bi-Zi.

“This is now our yearly farm,” Kenneth said. “Bi-Zi Farms is probably the most kid-friendly farm.”

Zimmerman appreciates that feedback.

“This is all about our community,” Zimmerman said. “We are given the opportunity to provide for our community. This wouldn’t happen if we didn’t have people support us. It’s very humbling in that regard.”

Tickets for Bi-Zi Farms Pumpkin Patch and Harvest Fest should be purchased in advance, online. Please go to the website: https://www.bi-zifarms.com/

What’s in a name? What’s in a title?

Joe Zimmerman has heard it pronounced many different ways. Bye-Zee. Bye-Zeye. 

“We don’t correct anybody anymore,” Zimmerman said with a laugh.

The Bi-Zi Farms name is a play-on-words of his dad’s name, Bill Zimmerman. And it is pronounced like the word busy. As in, they work on a busy farm. 

Joe Zimmerman does not care how anyone pronounces it, though. He just hopes everyone has a good time when they come to the property. 

Joe also has no official title within the business. He runs finance and marketing but there are no officers with the family business.

“Dad says you can call yourself anything you want to as long as you get on the tractor when I tell you to,” Joe Zimmerman said.

More pumpkin patches:

Here are a few of other pumpkin patches in Clark County that are open for family fun. Please feel free to add your favorite pumpkin patch in the comments.

Pumpkin Lane is open on weekends at Pomeroy Farms. For admission and more details, go to: https://pomeroyfarm.org/

Then there is the Vancouver Pumpkin Patch. For admission and more details, go to: https://vancouverpumpkinpatch.com/

In Camas, Waltons Farms welcomes guests to its festival, too. For admission and more details, go to: http://www.waltonsfarms.com/