You’ve got an opportunity for some great old-fashioned fun at CountrySide Family Farms’ Fall Festival and Maze, which runs through this Sunday, Oct. 31. The 20-acre farm is the place to get lost in a towering corn maze, settle back with your sweetie on a hayride, let loose in the Barnyard Ball Zone, take a ride on the Orange Blossom Train, stroll the Pumpkin Patch, play the Giant Tic Tac Toe or Chess games, stroll through an Old Florida nature trail, Rubber Ducky Races and so very much more. There’s even a zip line and a Hillbilly Hootenanny. And, hidden among the Corn Maze are riddles called “Cornundrums” which can win you bragging rights. Children ages 2 to 5 can give it a try in the festival’s new Kiddie Maze. There will be tons of food like El Sid Tacos, house-made guac and chips, farm-made pizza, salads, burgers and more. Leave room for the downhome sweets like Key Lime Pie, Big Cinnamon Buns, Donna Sue’s Pecan Pie and much more. Don’t forget the Flashlight Nights where you can bring your own flashlight and explore that corn maze. All stations have hand sanitizer and regular cleaning schedules. Masks are not required. Tickets purchased online start at $12.95 plus tax. Tickets purchased at the gate start at $15.95 plus tax. All tickets subject to handling fees. Children 2 years of age and younger are admitted free of charge. The Festival and Maze hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 30 and Sunday, Oct. 31. Flashlight Nights run 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29, and Saturday, Oct. 30. Countryside Family Farms Fall Festival & Maze is at 6325 81st Street, Vero Beach. For more information, call 888-550-5745 or visit CountrySideCitrus.com and click onto “Visit the Farm.”
Keep up the Halloween theme at the Silent Film and Organ Concert featuring organ soloist Andrew Galuska Friday, Oct. 29, at the Community Church of Vero Beach. The silent film will be “The Man Who Laughs.” German expressionist filmmaker Paul Leni adapted his silent 1928 romantic melodrama from the 1869 Victor Hugo novel. It is the film that established that mad, crazed, grotesque smile seen even today in Hollywood horror films (think of Batman’s Joker), so expect to get at least a little bit spooked out. Galuska, the church’s director of music and fine arts, has been playing organ to silent films for about 15 years now around the country and has built a good reputation. He chose this film to add to his repertoire. “It’s a very obscure and wonderful horror/love story, very similar to ‘Phantom of the Opera,’” he says. “It takes many hours of sitting and watching every detail of the film to begin to piece together a film score. I try to capture the pathos of the overall film as well as different scenes … It is mainly a large-scale improvisation based on the film.” The creepy fun begins 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 29 at the Community Church of Vero Beach, 1901 23rd St. There is a suggested donation of $10. Please wear masks and remain socially distanced. Call 772-562-3633 or visit CCOVB.org.
