Each year, the community and many guests from around the region eagerly wait to discover what the Castle Hill Farm corn maze design will be.

Located at 25 Sugar Lane, this season’s theme is “Found My Honeybee.” That design holds two special meanings for the Paproski family, who have owned and operated the farm for 95 years.

Diana Paproski said that the family began talking about theme options in the springtime.

Since they did a bride and groom corn maze idea years ago for her older daughter Stephanie’s wedding to Danny Kearns, the family knew they wanted to do something special for youngest daughter, Shannon, because she had just gotten engaged to Christopher Doyle.

“We did bees for ‘Found My Honeybee’ to celebrate Shannon and Chris’ wedding,” she said.

The design has two honeybees among a variety of flowers, a sun at the top, and the date marker of “2022.”

The bee theme also resonated with Paproski to honor her father, Charlie Fadus.

“Stephanie was the first-born grandchild, and she couldn’t say, ‘Grampy.’ She’d say ‘Grambee’ – then ‘Bee’ stuck, and he didn’t want to change it. All four of his grandchildren called him ‘Bee,’” Paproski shared.

Shannon decided to have her wedding this year, because she wanted her grandfather to be able to attend. Unfortunately, at almost 96 years old, Fadus passed away in May several months before the event.

“My dad was really happy to go back to my mom [Jean] — he missed her for four years,” Paproski said. She noted that her parents were married for 64 years and describes their love like in the movie The Notebook.

So not only did the “Found My Honeybee” corn maze theme hold significance for Shannon and Christopher finding love together, but it also signified Paproski’s parents being reunited.

Stephanie told The Newtown Bee, “My grandfather was such an amazing person. Both my grandparents were kind and memorable people. We are excited to honor them in such a big way this season.”

How Big Is It?

Guests will get to enjoy the seven-and-a-half-acre corn maze that has several miles of trails, according to Paproski. Within it, visitors will find 30 different signs posted with fun facts about honeybees.

“Everything is related to honeybees,” Paproski said. “Right now, there is such a push for people to plant pollinator gardens. Because of the herbicides, the bee population is dwindling. We are also bringing awareness for how important bees are.”

People will receive a paper map and can participate in the 2022 Coding Game Challenge. It will instruct them to find symbols/letters at the signs and scan a QR code at the end.

The site that the game directs people to explains, “Using the ‘Code Game’ letters you collected from our 30 signs in the maze, test your luck solving the phrase. Four lucky winners will be chosen on November 1, 2022, to receive a custom wreath or spray from our Castle Hill Farm’s Tree Farm this winter.”

The corn maze is open on Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 5 pm.

Fall Festival

Castle Hill Farm will also be hosting a special Fall Festival Flashlight Corn Maze on Saturday, October 29, from 6 to 9 pm.

The night event will include entry to the corn maze with a Halloween scavenger hunt, live band, bonfire, and food truck courtyard.

Food will be from Twins BBQ with vegan burgers available, Tapville of Western Connecticut, and Backyard Pizza Truck. Truck serving times are from 6 to 9 pm.

While costumes are not required for entry, the farm’s website states, “All guests dressed up will receive a treat at the gate.”

Tickets will be on sale at the event as well as online.

Autumn Offerings

In addition to the corn maze, Castle Hill Farm has other seasonal activities available for the public on weekends from 10 am to 5 pm.

Paproski said, “We have four-and-a-half acres of pick-your-own-pumpkins. There are varieties from face pumpkins to small sugar pumpkins, which are delicious — I make bread and soup with them. We have gourds and Indian corn.”

Those looking to do some shopping can visit the farm stand on site to select from the already picked items.

There are hayrides, too, where people can see the farm animals and feed the cows.

“Every animal we have is a rescue animal,” Paproski said.

During the weekdays, Castle Hill Farm hosts private groups for corporate team building, celebrations of life, and school field trips.

Paproski is a retired schoolteacher and crafted a curriculum where she teaches students about the life cycle of pumpkins and sunflowers, among other educational topics related to the farm.

“We like to share the farm with other people in the community,” Paproski said.

For more information about Castle Hill Farm, visit castlehillfarm.net or e-mail castlehillfarmct@gmail.com.

Reporter Alissa Silber can be reached at alissa@thebee.com.