Local Legend: Mark Saunders celebrates 30 years of fun, frights at Ottawa farm
Posted Oct 1, 2021 11:00:00 AM.
Mark Saunders is celebrating three decades as the Director of Fun at Ottawa's Saunders Farm and says he has big plans for spooky season to celebrate the anniversary.
Back in 1992, Bill and Anne Saunders started their own fall festival with a haunted hayride, haunted barn and other farm related activities. With friends and family helping out, they became the area’s number one fall destination, especially close to Halloween with Frightfest.
These days residents can enjoy Saunders Farm year round with other holiday highlights and special events. Over 1.3-million guests have visited the farm over the years and Saunders says it's become a family tradition for many.
He explains, the energy and thought put into the farm’s constant evolution makes it a fresh and exciting experience for guests old and new. Plus, the pandemic downtime gave Saunders and his team some extra time to prepare major additions to the 100 acre playground in Munster, located about 35 minutes by car from downtown Ottawa.
A haunted hayride is new for the 2021 fall season.
“As a fan favourite from the very beginning, the hayride has been transformed this year with leading edge sound and light technologies,” says Saunders.
He says they've also added two 600-foot ziplines which take guests over the Mile Maze and ponds.
Earlier this spring, the family announced a new business venture in Saunders Cider.
Saunders Farm's pumpkin season and Frightfest are both open until October 31. All attendees must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and follow the farm's health and safety policy to attend.
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