Despite the deceivingly warm temperatures, fall is here. And so are activities that go along with it, including one of the season’s most popular: corn mazes.

In the agricultural-minded area, Northeast Georgia can boast of three corn mazes within an easy drive of Gainesville.

Jaemor Farms Corn Maze

About 17 miles northeast of Gainesville is Jaemor Farms, which is no stranger to the corn maze scene.

In its 11th year of corn mazes, Jaemor Farms designed the field with a similar sense of familiarity: Jurassic Jaemor.

“We always seem to get more comments when we have a kid-friendly design,” Jaemor Farms marketing coordinator Caroline Lewallen said. “Many of us grew up watching the Jurassic movies, and dinosaurs are always a hit with both adults and kids.”

But creating this maze doesn’t happen overnight, Lewallen said.

“The planning of the (next) maze starts literally as soon as it closes,” Lewallen said. “In January, we pick the design and the size.”

The farm works with a company called Maize Quest, which actually brings the design to life. In July, Jaemor Farms plants the corn. By August, Maize Quest mows the corn into the design with the help of a GPS and a computer program.

This year’s Jurassic Jaemor maze is not the only offering at the farm. Jaemor offers an option for families with smaller children: the mini maze. Significantly smaller than the regular maze, the mini version can be completed in a third of the time.

But the farms does not just provide the mazes as entertainment. The farm also offers a petting zoo, apple cannons, a farm slide and hayrides.

A $14 access pass grants guests unlimited use of these amenities.

“Something that makes Jaemor’s maze different is that it’s on a working farm,” Lewallen said. “When people go on a hayride, they’re able to see the 17 types of fruit and vegetables that grow on the farm.”

Throughout the fall, Jaemor will continue to sell its regular market items but will add fall items to its menu. Items include candy apples, kettle corn, funnel cakes, fried pies and pumpkins.

Uncle Shuck’s Corn Maze

Directly west of Jaemor and 18 miles northwest of Gainesville is Uncle Shuck’s corn maze in Dawsonville. And its maze is somewhat boastworthy.

“Without bragging, we consistently have a bigger maze than most and a more intricate maze than most,” Uncle Shuck’s owner Mike Pinzl said. “We really hang our hat on our maze.”

This year, Northside Hospital — where Pinzl is a volunteer — sponsored the maze. The design is a stethoscope with the Northside Hospital logo inside surrounded by the state of Georgia. Previous corn maze themes have been the Civil War, a butterfly, a rooster and the Democratic and Republican parties.

“Truly, our biggest attraction is our corn maze, our corn, our design,” Pinzl said.

A lot of work is put into making the corn maze successful.

“Growing corn isn’t as easy as most people think,” Pinzl said. “Getting all the permits and all the behind the scenes work takes a lot of time.”

Along with the regular maze, Uncle Shuck’s offers a haunted maze called Dark Rows. According to its website uncleshucks.com, Dark Rows is “wickedly fun night time journey into the twisted trails of the moonlit cornfield.”

Flashlights aren’t permitted. And while it is a family-oriented environment, children younger than 12 must be accompanied by an adult.

Dark Rows will be open until 10 p.m. every Friday and Saturday night in October.

The maze is $11. Dark Rows admission costs $14, but admission to both is only $18.

While the mazes are the main attractions, Uncle Shuck’s also has a pumpkin patch and festival food onsite. Some of the cuisine include boiled peanuts, funnel cake, kettle corn and caramel apples.

Hayrides and bonfires are part of the activities. During the nighttime hayrides, visitors can toast marshmallows over the fire. Hayrides cost $5.

Guests may purchase a “Whole Bushel” ticket for $21 and experience the corn maze, Dark Rows, a hayride and a bonfire.

Uncle Shuck’s will host Scout programs Sept. 24-25 and Oct. 1-2. The Boy Scout weekend is Saturday, Sept. 24 and Sunday, Sept. 25, with the Girl Scouts the following weekend.

Scouts will receive a free participation patch with their $12 admission ticket. Boy Scouts may camp out free of charge.

Buford Corn Maze

More than 15 miles south of Gainesville is the Buford Corn Maze at 4470 Bennett Road in Buford.

This maze has a regular, scare-free maze, as well as a Haunted Forest. The child-friendly maze is a pumpkin with the logo of WSB-TV, which partnered with the corn maze on the design.

The corn maze and Haunted Forest are open weekends in September, every day except Tuesdays and Thursdays in October, and weekends in November until Nov. 13.

Admission is $15 for each, but guests can save $5 by purchasing a combo ticket for the two.

While the corn maze may be the centerpiece of the business, it isn’t all it has to offer. Activities available are animal viewings, bouncy houses, pony rides, a popcorn jumping pillow and a corn box (a sandbox without the mess).

The Buford Corn Maze Stage is another attractions, providing live entertainment for guests. According to its website bufordcornmaze.com, the stage has lent its space to a wide variety of entertainment acts ranging from rock bands to magicians.