Maize Quest, a cornfield maze adventure, is open for the second year at Pilgram Farms, 190 Eich Road, Fairview Township.

Created in a 10-acre field, Maize Quest challenges guests who enter the maze to find their way out. The paths in thousands of living cornstalks offer entertainment and educational opportunities to families, groups and individuals.

This year's theme, the Mayflower Adventure, removes the "cornfusion" about settlers who landed on Plymouth Rock.

Participants discover games, stamps and clues and hear a briefing on the voyage from the command center. From a game sheet with the Mayflower storyline, questers follow suggestions, answer questions and create a map to navigate through the maze.

Maize-o-Vision, a trademarked decoding system, reveals the map hidden on each game sheet to help visitors find their way out. To assure all participants will find their way out, patrons will be given a flag to signal the watchtower for help. Staff members will also be available in the maze to offer hints to the frustrated.

Owned and managed by William "Chris" Pilgram and his wife Sandy, the farm boasts a strong tradition, dating to 1894 when George Pilgram bought 15 acres that he cleared for planting grain. He passed the land to his son, William "Bill" F. Pilgram, who added acreage and sold the farm to his son, Paul E. Pilgram.

Paul included cattle production and expanded the farm to 385 acres, leasing additional land to plant in grain. In 1996, Chris bought the farm from his father, managing the operation of 1,700 acres of corn, soybeans and wheat, as well as 50 head of cattle.

In 2001, Chris and Sandy planted edible soybeans, as well as staple feed grain for marketing in Ohio and consumption in Japan, and opened the first Maze Quest, hoping visitors would have fun while learning facts about agriculture.

Through Nov. 3, Maze Quest is open 5 to 11 p.m. Fridays; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Saturdays; and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sundays. On Fridays and Saturdays, visitors are welcome to bring their own flashlights for Flashlight Nights. The last ticket is sold one hour prior to closing.

Special hours for Labor Day and Columbus Day weekends are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Sundays, Sept. 1 and Oct. 13, and 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Mondays, Sept. 2 and Oct. 14.

Pilgram Farms also offers a Kids Activity Center, a Giant Straw Bale Maze and campfires for ages 4 and older at a cost of $1 a person in groups. Wagon-style hayrides for groups of 10 to 25 -- at $3 a person -- offer a scenic tour through the country with trees in fall colors, cattle grazing, acres of corn and soybeans, as well as harvest-related areas.

Special birthday party gatherings may be scheduled. Call (724) 253-2003 for a calendar of events and schedules.