Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM OCTOBER 16-22, 2019 UCW 23 Hope Mills News & Views NEWS Pig racing added to popular Gallberry Corn Maze by EARL VAUGHAN JR. The popular Gallberry Corn Maze is back for a sixth season of weekend fun for families, with a special added attraction this year. "We are doing pig racing,'' said Jeanette McLean, spokesperson for the corn maze. They try to get in at least two pig races dur- ing Friday's hours for the corn maze and as many as three or four during their longer hours on Saturday. This year's hours are 5-10 p.m. on Friday, noon to 10 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. The last tickets are sold each day one hour before closing. The pigs have their own track at the corn maze, the Gallberry Nas-Hawg Speedway. The four competing critters are named Earnhawg Jr., Danica Porkchop, Stinkerbelle (a Southern pig, of course) and Spongehawg Spampants. The pigs are Gloucestershire old spots and were originally bred as orchard pigs. "They are actual- ly leaner, longer pigs and aren't messy,'' McLean said. "They don't root as much as a farm pig does.'' Each pig is assigned a number and a color prior to the race and children that come to the corn maze are encouraged to cheer for the pig of their choice to win. In addition to the racing pigs, Galberry continues with many of its traditional attractions that have made the corn maze a fall hit. There is the jumping pillow along with a wide assortment of farm animals. They include Hee Haw the Donkey, baby goats and baby peacocks, Tom Tom the Turkey and rabbits. Other attractions include a giant corn shack with 6,000 pounds of corn, various slides, a climbing wall, cornhole games, tic tac toe played with Styrofoam pumpkins, a barrel train and a hayride. Of course, the main attractions are the two mazes, a one-acre children's maze and the five-acre main maze. McLean estimates it takes about 45 minutes to walk through both mazes. Flashlights are required in the maze after dark. They are available for sale at the concession stand but McLean said most custom- ers use the light on their cell- phones. Tickets are $11 for everyone ages 3-65. Children under three are free. Cumberland County school teachers, seniors 66 and over and military can get a $1 discount with proper identifica- tion. The hay ride stops at dusk for safety reasons. All sales are cash only and there is an ATM at the main ticket gate. The only thing a ticket doesn't include is the popular air cannons which are three shots for $1. Pumpkins and all food from the concession stand cost extra. Concession items include water, soft drinks, juice boxes, funnel cakes, fried Oreos, honey buns, corn dogs, hot dogs, nachos with chili and cheese and fried corn on the cob. There are also S'Mores kits available. Fire pits are also provided. The Gallberry Corn Maze, located on 5991 Braxton Rd., is open through Nov. 3. For more information, visit the Facebook page, Gallberry Corn Maze, the website, gallberrycornmaze.com, or call McLean at 910-309-7582. Harmony holds Fall Family Festival by EARL VAUGHAN JR. Harmony at Hope Mills, an assisted living facility, is still somewhat new to the Hope Mills community. It's located at 7051 Rockfish Road, a short distance from Jack Britt High School. To help introduce itself and to give back to the town it hopes to serve, Harmony is holding a Fall Family Festival on Saturday, Oct. 19, from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. "We want to say thank you and bring the com- munity together as well, as with our families that are currently residents,'' said Taneshia Morris, the move-in coordinator at Harmony. Harmony is partnering with the group that spon- sors the annual Cut My City event to offer a variety of activities and services to anyone who would like to take part, especially members of the senior citizens community. One of the big features of the festival will be free haircuts and some makeovers. Hair dressers and professional makeup artists will be on-hand to help with the makeovers. Morris said Harmony has reached out to local churches to ask them to nominate deserving mem- bers as candidates for the makeovers. Around 2 p.m., Harmony will hold a seniors fashion show for anyone ages 60 and up. Morris said the fash- ion show will be com- plete with a catwalk for the participants. There will also be senior games, carnival style, with prizes for the participants. Other events will include a photo booth, an antique car show, a cornhole competition and a variety of food trucks. Anyone who would like to find out additional information about the event or RSVP for the makeovers or the fashion show is asked to call by Wednesday, Oct. 16, at the latest. The number is 910-635-0555. "We just want people to know we are here,'' Morris said. The Gallberry Corn Maze offers a variety of fun activities. Visitors will see a wide assortment of farm animals. The Fall Family Festival will offer a variety of activities and services, to include haircuts and makeovers . Harmony at Hope Mills is an assisted living facility in Hope Mills.