The LSU Rural Life Museum and the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden draw frolickers for fall fun

Hayrides, corn mazes and all things fall are coming to Burden this month.

Families across the Capital Region have made it an annual tradition to visit the LSU Rural Life Museum and LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens at Burden each autumn. There’s a lot to see at these two attractions during this season. The sunflowers at the Botanic Gardens are in bloom and school trips gather to learn about Louisiana history at the Rural Life Museum.

But this busy time is also boosted by a lineup of events that celebrate the season. For years, these events on Burden’s grounds have been a tradition that people return to.

“It’s a lot of work, but it’s one of the most rewarding times,” says Rural Life Museum director William Stark. “Just seeing the community of the museum coming back around after a summer when it gets a little slower for an outdoor museum in Louisiana.”

Stark says he sees guests of all ages return to the museum’s Harvest Days year after year. The weekend-long event celebrates south Louisiana history by inviting artisans to share practices that sustained Louisianans for over a century. Stark says some of the most popular demonstrations, like woodworking, blacksmithing, candle making and cooking in an open-hearth kitchen, return each year. But the team at the museum also adds new activities to keep this years-old event fresh, such as a demonstration from LSU School of Veterinary Medicine’s Raptor Rehabilitation Program.

The museum’s not-so-spooky Haints, Haunts and Halloween event will also feature new games and activities this month. And Friends of the LSU Rural Life Museum is also refreshing its annual Red Rooster fundraiser. At this year’s gala, guests will celebrate the museum’s history by immersing themselves in activities from the past. Guests are encouraged to don a “Western chic” ensemble as they party in this historic village. Don’t forget boots; local groups will teach line dances throughout the night. Plus, thanks to a partnership with the Ron Zappe International Beerfest, the gala will serve locally brewed
beers that are inspired by pre-Prohibition-era drinks.

Stark says these events are a huge undertaking for the museum’s staff and volunteers.

Malorey Uzee, communications director for the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens, says her team is also hard at work during this season. Preparation for the gardens’ incredibly popular corn maze is a year-round endeavor, but much of the planting and planning begins in July. Uzee says they plant their corn slightly later than usual so the maze still appears green when guests walk through in October.

After more than 15 years, the corn maze events have changed and grown. Activities, games and entertainment continually get added. This year, the garden is adding a 70-foot-long bounce pad alongside all the fall festivities this event is known for.

“It used to be much smaller than what it is now, and there used to be much fewer activities,” Uzee says. “But now we’ve grown to be so much more than just the corn maze.”

LSU Rural Life Museum events

Harvest Days

Oct. 3 + 4, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Harvest Days at the Rural Life Museum offers guests the chance to look into the past. This weekend-long event showcases traditions, crafts and music from the 1800s. The museum’s historic village is full of hands-on activities and demonstrations that celebrate Louisiana history. Guests can get involved in activities like candlemaking, open-hearth cooking and woodworking. There will also be food, games, live folk music and dancing at this family-friendly event. Tickets are free for children 3 and under, $10 for ages 4 to 11, and $12 for ages 12 and over.

Red Rooster Bash

Oct. 15, 6 to 9 p.m.

Sponsored by Friends of the LSU Rural Life Museum, the Red Rooster Bash is one of the LSU Rural Life Museum’s main fundraisers. Each year, the museum opens for an evening of live music, food, games and more as guests are immersed in rural life. Travel through the historic village and drink beer at the Tap House, sip on craft cocktails like the signature Red Rooster at the Apothecary, and dine on a roasted hog and chicken in the Smokehouse. Plus, Friends of the LSU Rural Life Museum have a few fun additions planned this year, including custom beers and mocktails, line dancing, music by DJ Bird and an old-timey Western theme. Individual tickets are $65.

Haints, Haunts and Halloween

Oct. 25, 2 to 4:30 p.m.

The LSU Rural Life Museum’s annual Halloween celebration invites guests to dress up and stroll through treat-or-treating stations spread throughout the venue. While this event highlights centuries-old Halloween traditions, there are also new activities to keep it fresh. Offerings this year include a scavenger hunt, a cake walk, traditional fair games and an interactive education table that features games and artifacts from the Global Wildlife Center. Tickets are free for children 3 and under, $6 for ages 4 to 11, and $12 for ages 12 and over.

LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens events

Corn Maze

Oct. 3, 4, 10, 17, 24, 31; morning, afternoon and evening sessions

Every Saturday and the first Sunday in October, the LSU AgCenter Botanic Gardens opens its corn maze. During a two-hour session, guests can take a hayride, explore the sunflower field, meet cute animals at the petting farm, pick a pumpkin from the pumpkin patch and more. Families return to this weekly event year after year. Tickets often sell out before a session begins, so guests are encouraged to pre-register online. Tickets are free for children 2 and under, $15 for ages 3 to 12, and $17.50 for ages 13 and over.

Night Maze and Campfire

Oct. 30, 6 to 9 p.m.

On the night before Halloween, the Corn Maze opens for a special celebration. Night Maze features many of the same activities as the corn maze day events with some festive additions. Guests are encouraged to don costumes and glow sticks. Roast marshmallows over the bonfire, listen to live music by Swampland Revival, and eat food from local vendors. Make sure to bring a flashlight. Tickets are $20 per person and free for children 2 and under.

This article was originally published in the October 2026 issue of 225 Magazine.