Cornbelly's and other fall fairs: a narrative in sections

It's too early to think about this, but I have to be somewhat cognizant so that way I don't miss the Cornbelly's August season pass sale (unless I secure a California escape by then, but even then I might still just get it). I already borked the Christmas sale last winter. 

I'm obviously a huge water park fan, and water parks are usually associated with two types of weather: blindingly sunny and hot, or cool and suspiciously close to thunderstorm weather. This is true from May into September. Though the last days of September can be cold and rainy, it does not seem very common. 

Because the fall is so volatile at this latitude, it separates the fall fair season into much more distinguishable periods. 

The Pre-Season: Late August - Early Sept

We're still deep within the trappings of a Utah summer -- intensely hot and blindingly bright, with pure blue skies. Only the Spanish Fork location is open. The corn and sunflowers are green and fresh. Especially during passholder preview, hardly anyone is there, other than Insta moms and some extremely bored-looking dads in cowboy hats. Neither group will ride anything with their kids, making it super awkward to get on rides, but whatever. Everyone is very sweaty. Fall fairs aren't usually known for their shade. 

Water parks are still open (hell yeah!) so I'll often hit up the festival and then go ride water slides right after. I love this crossover season. 

Early Season: Mid-Sept 

The weather is starting to cool, but in a very comfortable way. It feels like California. There still aren't too many people here, but it's slightly better than "I stand there awkwardly and then get on the ride with one (1) six-year-old". Most people are passholders. You start to get the hardcore "fall people", you know, the ones who are constantly whining about how much they hate summer on r/Autumn. But hey, we share a love for these festivals, and that's awesome. 

Both Lehi and Spanish Fork are open now, Lehi starting off with its own passholder preview. Haunt season is also beginning. Towards the end of this time, the lines for rides are super short, yet not awkward-level short. Water parks are closed though, sadface. So I just ride indoor slides. 

Early/Mid Season: Late Sept

Are those pumpkin spice ladies with sweaters and fancy boots? Oh no...Here it comes. Oh and I had better use that free sunflower coupon. 

Peak Season: October

Hot or warm days and cold nights. Peak fall foliage. And suddenly, all of the GP remember "oh yeah, fall activities exist." 

Holy CRAP there are PEOPLE. Lehi is slammed. Both locations are popping. At Spanish Fork you can get your free pumpkin. Instead of being the only person on a ride, I have to wait 30 minutes after parking on Venus / in Tibet / in the Shadow Realm / pissing off a bunch of drivers behind me who wanted the spot. Finally, everyone who I asked to come to Cornbelly's finally says yes. I go with friends through scare mazes, and family comes to try the food and do hay rides. Someone uses my weekday buddy pass. I wear my water park hoodies because I'm sad and I miss the summer, but at the same time, I'm in a good headspace overall because of how much fun it all is. 

The corn is golden now, and still standing strong at its peak height. You never feel alone here even when visiting solo, because there are so many people all around you. And if you get here early enough in the morning, there's a bit of that early-season peace before the crowds come. Lots of good food, music, rides, and snacks. It's also peak haunt/scare maze season and all sorts of fun stuff is happening. Lagoon is open with Frightmares and it's so packed it's almost unvisitable -- but gotta do it! Got to experience it all. 

Honestly, this is one of the most fun times of year to visit. Night falls, the air is cool, and the world is full of laughter and glittering lights. And when Halloween hits, man! We're at the peak!

Post-Season: November

Only Lehi is open, and often, only for the first week at most (and usually only the first day). High likelihood of frost. Even with all the people there, it feels...quiet. They smash a bunch of pumpkins because what else are they going to do with them. The sunflowers are basically mush. The corn is dead, flat, and drooping, meaning that you can easily see through all the mazes. I'm wearing a coat, with the unhappy realization that "coat and jeans" is going to be the only thing I wear for the next 5 months. The world is gray and I walk alone through the empty scare mazes. The high of Halloween has ended in a crash, and after the final fun of the warm season, nothing but months of gray gloom lie ahead. 

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