You could spend all day trying to pick a favorite part of this Nebraska farm.
And that decision does not get easier once you arrive.
There is always something pulling you in another direction, whether that means apples, pumpkins, a corn maze, or one of the live shows happening around the grounds.
More than 50 attractions fill the season, which means trying to conquer everything is probably unnecessary.
The 2026 run stretches from September 4 through November 1, with a preview day for season passholders on September 3.
My strategy would be simple: pick two or three priorities first.
After that, the farm can have the rest of the day.
Vala’s Creates A Brand-New Corn Maze Design Every Fall
Vala’s changes its corn maze design every year. So the paths you memorized last October won’t help you much this time around, and that keeps the route from feeling familiar.
Think about how most attractions work. You visit once, learn the layout, and the surprise fades a little with every return trip.
A fresh pattern flips that idea around. Returning visitors face a new route each fall, which puts everyone back at the same starting point.
Picture your group standing at a fork in the path, everyone pointing a different direction. One person can take the lead while everyone else keeps an eye out for the next turn.
Want a tip for the trip? Pick one person as the official navigator, then switch leaders if the maze starts sending you in circles.
The corn maze closes at 6 p.m., so do not leave it until the very end of the day. Work it into the afternoon, then save the evening for lights, shows, food, or another part of the farm.
The Three-Acre Maze Brings Plenty Of Turns
Three acres of corn can feel much bigger once you’re standing inside it. Tall stalks block the view on both sides, turning the route into a full outdoor puzzle.
That’s the setup of the maze at Vala’s. It covers three acres and changes design each year, giving you plenty of turns without making it the only thing you do all day.
The easiest approach is to slow down at intersections and keep track of the route you just tried. There is no prize for finishing first, so a wrong turn simply adds another stretch of walking.
Comfortable shoes matter here. Farm paths can be uneven, and the maze adds more steps to a day that may already include the orchard, pumpkin patch, play areas, and live entertainment.
If you are visiting with younger children, keep the group together and choose a simple meeting point before entering. That gives everyone one less thing to think about once the stalks start looking alike.
Once you find the exit, decide whether your next stop should be something active or a place to sit for a while. A hayrack ride makes an easy follow-up.
More Than 50 Fall Attractions Fill The Gretna Farm
Fifty attractions sounds like a lot, and it truly is. Vala’s offers more than 50 attractions during the fall season, so the farm can fill far more than a quick stop.
Beyond the corn maze, you’ll find the Pirate Maze, Barnyard Challenge Course and Zip Line, Orchard Play Yard, wooden play houses, train rides, walk-through attractions, and other activity areas.
Three live shows run daily, and additional entertainment appears across several stages. That gives you a useful way to break up the walking and sit for a performance before moving on.
The grounds cover a large working farm, so expect plenty of distance between some stops. A stroller or wagon can be useful for younger children, especially if you plan to stay for several hours.
Grab a farm map early and circle the attractions that matter most to your group. Trying to see everything in one visit can turn a relaxed fall day into a race.
Which spot gets first pick? Choosing two or three priorities before you arrive makes the rest of the schedule easier.
If an attraction has a closing time, place it earlier in the day. The three-acre corn maze, for example, closes at 6 p.m., while the farm itself stays open later.
Hayrack Rides Lead Visitors Straight To The Pumpkin Fields
Hay, a tractor, and a ride toward a field full of pumpkins put several familiar fall elements into one stop.
At Vala’s, hayrack rides carry visitors out to the pumpkin patch. The ride gives you a chance to sit for a while before choosing a pumpkin and heading back toward the main farm areas.
Once you hop off, the real hunt begins. Pumpkin size, shape, and availability can vary throughout the season, so take a look around before settling on one.
If a pumpkin is coming home with you, think about timing. Picking one later can save you from carrying it around while you still have the maze, orchard, shows, or play areas left on the schedule.
Light gloves can be useful if stems and vines bother your hands, and closed-toe shoes make sense around farm ground.
A photo in the field can be an easy stop before heading back. Keep it quick if the day is busy, then decide whether apples or another attraction should come next.
The hayrack ride also works well as a break between more active stops. After the maze or zip line, a seated ride can reset the pace before the next round of walking.
Apple Picking Adds Another Classic Fall Tradition
Did you know this pumpkin farm also has more than 40 acres of apple trees? Vala’s grows 45 varieties that ripen at different points during the fall season.
Apple picking is available during the fall season beginning at 10 a.m. The orchard usually closes at 6:30 p.m. or sunset, with earlier closing times on some September days tied to special orchard events.
A tractor ride from the U-Pick Apple Shed takes visitors to the orchard. Once there, varieties can include Honeycrisp, Jonathan, Ludacrisp, Sweet Zinger, and others depending on what is ripe.
Save picking for later in the day if you do not want to carry a full bag around other attractions. The orchard can also become its own main event if apples matter more to your group than rides or haunted areas.
Back home, the fresh haul can turn into pies, sauce, or simple snacks. That makes apple picking one of the few farm activities that keeps working for you after the visit is over.
The orchard closes before the rest of the farm, so check the time before heading into a long attraction. Missing the last picking window is harder to fix than moving a show or snack stop.
Haunted Attractions And Live Shows Keep The Farm Busy After Dark
Creaking doors, dim lighting, and walk-through spaces give the farm a spookier side once you move beyond the daytime attractions.
Vala’s includes a Spook Shed, Haunted Farmhouse, Haunted Trail and Graveyard, and Lost Pumpkin Mine among its walk-through attractions.
The Spook Shed is designed as the gentler haunted option, while the Haunted Farmhouse turns the original farmhouse into a slightly spookier stop.
Not interested in haunted spaces? The Pumpkin Lights Trail offers an evening alternative with lights, fog effects, and a large jack-o’-lantern photo feature.
Entertainment continues throughout the day too. Three live shows are included daily, and the 2026 schedule adds recurring events such as pig races, the Pumpkin-Eating Dragon Show, Candy Cannon shows, Harvest Moon Cinema, and stage performances.
A fixed show time can help organize the rest of the visit. Choose one performance first, then work food or nearby attractions around it instead of crossing the farm back and forth.
After dark, the choice becomes simple: go spooky, go bright, or stay near the stages. That keeps the evening flexible without needing to cover every attraction on the map.
What To Know Before Visiting Vala’s Pumpkin Patch In Nebraska
Planning ahead can make a long farm day easier. The 2026 fall season runs from September 4 through November 1, with a season passholder preview day on September 3.
Vala’s is open every day during the public season. Sunday through Thursday hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., while Friday and Saturday hours run from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
The farm sits southwest of Omaha and northeast of Lincoln, making it reachable from either city for a day trip. Expect plenty of walking once you arrive, so comfortable shoes deserve priority over anything too delicate.
Most purchases across the farm are cashless. Credit and debit cards and mobile payments work throughout the property, while cash is accepted at the Admissions Barn and several locations that sell Vala gift cards.
Ticket prices vary by day, and buying online can reduce the admission price. Ages two and under are free.
After 4 p.m., visitors age 14 and under must be accompanied by an adult who is at least 19 for the rest of the visit. That is worth keeping in mind if older children or teens are part of the group.
You’ll find Vala’s Pumpkin Patch & Apple Orchard at 12102 S. 180th Street, Gretna, NE 68028.
With more than 50 attractions, a three-acre maze, and evening entertainment competing for your time, the easiest plan is to choose a few priorities and let the rest of the day fill itself in.