Maze Daze ... opens Saturday

The corn's growing high and that can mean only one thing in Lancaster County. OK, it actually means lots of things in this agricultural area, but one of the most fun is the corn mazes in the area. And the granddaddy of them all is the Amazing Maize Maze, which opens Saturday at Cherry Crest Adventure Farm, 150 Cherry Hill Road, Ronks. This year's theme is Outdoor Adventure, with a special nod to the Boy Scout's 100th anniversary. Spread over five acres, with 2.5 miles of paths, the Amazing Maize Maze will challenge everyone's sense of direction. The average time it takes to get through the maze is about an hour, but everyone is free to wander at his or her own pace. And don't worry about getting hopelessly lost. There's help. Kernels of Knowledge will give you hints along the way and several maze masters will be there to help you find your way. The maze isn't the only family-friendly event taking place at Cherry Crest. Visitors can enjoy more than 40 other farm-related activities, including checking out the animals who live on the farm, taking a wagon ride or learning the history of the farm. General admission is $14.95 for adults 12 and older and $12.95 for children 3 to 11. A number of other admission options, including a season-long pass, are available. Call 687-6843 for more information or go to cherrycrestfarm.com.

Go Dutch! ... opens Saturday

At 61 years old, the Kutztown Folk Festival, which opens Saturday and runs through July 11, is the oldest continuing folklife festival in the country. A celebration of Pennsylvania Dutch culture, the festival, located on the Kutztown Fairgrounds on route 222 between Allentown and Reading, includes six stages filled with entertainment, including the Blue Mountain Gospel Express, the Heidelberg Band and the aptly titled Sauerkraut Band. Pennsylvania Dutch crafts and folk art will be celebrated and an exhibit and sale of almost 2,500 Pennsylvania Dutch quilts will be held. There are plenty of children's activities, including Ed and Brenda's puppet barnyard theater, a Noah's Ark petting zoo and pony rides. A number of seminars exploring Pennsylvania Dutch culture will be held, featuring such topics as dialect, religious practices and farming heritage. And there's plenty of food, of course, including chicken pot pie, corn fritters, funnel cakes and shoo-fly pie. Wait, there's more, including strawberry shortcake, apple dumplings, freshly baked bread and homemade apple butter. And everyone knows calories don't count at the Kutztown Folk Festival, right? Admission is $12 for adults, $11 for seniors and free for children 12 and younger. The festival is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily. Go to www.kutztownfestival.com for more information.

Vineyard Music ... Saturday

Beginning Saturday and running through Labor Day weekend, Nissley Vineyards will present its Music in the Vineyards Concert series. Saturday, the Roof Rockers Band, a nine-piece, horn driven, rhythm and blues band will perform. Guests are welcome to have a picnic on the grounds of the vineyard at 140 Vintage Drive near Bainbridge, and Nissley wines will be available to purchase by the bottle. Admission is $15 at the gate. A season pass is available for $75. The rest of the season includes: July 10 - The Uptown Band featuring Erich Cawalla and Jenifer Kinder; July 17 - the 18-piece Blue Moon Big Band; July 24 - Flashback with Donna Mark; July 31 - The Jazz Guise; Aug. 7 - The Headliners; Aug. 14 - The Boomers; Aug. 21 - The Fabulous Cheeze Brothers and Sisters; Aug. 28 - The SilverHawks; Sept. 4 - Nightwind. To find out more about the series and the bands, go to www.nissleywine.com.