The Headless Horseman rides in to Conner Prairie
Fall arrived with a vengeance this week - perfect for ushering in the annual Headless Horseman fun at Conner Prairie! Of all the Fall family to-dos in the Indianapolis area, this one is in our family's Top 5. And if you're planning a visit this season, let's prep you with the rundown of what to expect:
Tons of games and activities in the midway
Try your hand at festive games like Cauldron Toss, Zombie Soccer and Monster Mini-Golf; hop on a carnival ride; or get a glimpse into your future by visiting our fortune teller. - the midway activities when you enter the gates at the outdoor Headless Horseman experience have plenty for all ages.
Shows, performances, and more shows
Mini acts dot the landscape inside Headless Horseman from the fan-favorite Stevens Puppets marionette recreation of The Legend of Sleepy Hollow in the big red barn {the perfect respite from cold temps}, to ‘The Legend of Sleepy Hollow' One-Man Show: with actor Ty Stover down in the bowl where Symphony on the Prairie is hosted. Don't forget to grab some warm cider and enjoy the ongoing broadcast of the original Legend of Sleepy Hollow cartoon we all remember from childhood.
New{er} fun
Conner Prairie keeps upping the ante on their 12-acre corn maze. Admittedly, this was the first year we were able to dive in! Details:
There are three options: Puzzle Maze - largest; takes up to an hour to complete, Kids’ Maze - best for younger feet and 20-30 minute time commitment, and Haunted Maze - I’m still not speaking to my kids for dragging me in this one.
The Corn Maze is open now-10/31 from 10am-5pm. {General admission fees apply - an additional $5/non-members or $4/members will be collected to enter.}
The Maze entrances are located behind the Symphony Bowl at the bottom of the hill.
Get lost? There are checkpoints along the way to help navigate + guide you. In worst case scenarios, there’s also a helpline to call.
Headless Horseman Conner Prairie - theCityMoms
Back by popular demand: A barrel-train ride for little ones. This is located up the hill from the Symphony on the Prairie locale, tucked over by the outdoor food stands. Speaking of mapping, make sure you grab one on your way in - if we could have wrestled it away from our 2-year-old companion, it would have been the perfect way to make our Headless Horseman game plan {Olive, we ain't mad atcha!}.Ok fine, here's a e-copy for you to peek.
Food galore
In addition to all the usual Conner Prairie food stand options, the Apple Store - powered by the amazing Conner Prairie Women's Alliance - is a must-stop for caramel apples, hot cider to warm our bones and plenty o' treats.
Best news? The Apple Store is open for any drop-in visitors, Tuesdays-Sundays from 11am-5pm OR during Headless Horseman hours until 9pm. No tickets required to pop in here!
The Haunted Hayride
Admittedly, this photo is a few years old but to my delight I heard a friendly voice while we were standing in line this year, turned, and it was this same volunteer who has helped us at Headless for the past 4. Hello friend!
Confession: We've lived in Indy for 10 years, visited Headless Horseman during almost all of them, and literally never done the Haunted Hayride. {Why? My poor husband is horribly allergic to hay!} So with him coaching my son's soccer team this evening, my daughter and I took full advantage of his absence and jumped in line. Tickets are sold in half hour increments for the hayride - we were fortunate enough to have front of the line passes and headed over. The line can be a bit of a wait before you're placed on a ride so come prepared to snuggle cold kiddos and fend off any scared-of-the-dark worries. The lines snake around the Conner Prairie Lenape Village and is sporadically lit so our littles were spooked but it set the perfect tone for a 'haunted' ride. Admittedly I was nervous for the hayride because my daughter tends to scare and stay scared easily. But the 'scarers' along the way were pretty noticeable and I thought Conner Prairie did a good job of avoiding making the ride a terrifying one. It took around 15 minutes or so to complete and you definitely do get a few brushes with the Headless Horseman. In all, I love watching Conner 'Scairie' up the ante of activity every year at the annual Headless Horseman fun. Do I see this falling out of our family's Top 5 Fall Fun anytime soon? Absolutely not. You can bet your head on that.
MORE INFO: Conner Prairie is located at 13400 Allisonville Road in Fishers. The Headless Horseman runs from 6-10pm on Thursdays-Sundays, October 7-30. Gates are open from 6-9pm. Activities and hayrides may run past 10pm. Tickets may be purchased online at connerprairie.org or in person. Prices on Thursdays and Sundays run $19/pp but Conner Prairie members are free. Prices on Friday and Saturday are $24/pp; plus-level and above members receive free admission on these days. Details are subject to change so please peek the Conner Prairie website to finalize your plans.
Special thanks to CityMom Abby for allowing us to feature her kiddos in this post as well!
