In the Yard for Friday, Sept. 21, 2012

Photo provided by the LSU AgCenterSaturday kicks off one of Baton Rouge's best fall destinations, harvest days at the Burden Center, 4560 Essen Lane. Activities include the straw mountain, above, a corn maze, demonstrations of 19th century rural life and the re-enactment of the Battle of Baton Rouge.

The LSU AgCenter, Burden Horticulture Society and the Rural Life Museum kick off two months of activities Saturday at the Burden Center, 4560 Essen Lane. The gate is on Essen Lane at I-10.

There will be a corn maze, straw mountain, hayride and pumpkin painting during Harvest Days from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Rural Life Museum which is located on the Burden property. Follow the signs.

Regular museum admission is $7 for adults, $6 for people 62 and older and children between 5 and 12, both days. Children younger than 5 are free.

The corn maze is an addition $3 for Harvest Days participants.

Activities both days at the museum include demonstrations that interpret 19th century rural Louisiana life. Listen for the roar of cannon and the crackle of musket fire as 150 re-enactors including infantry, cavalry and artillery stage the Civil War Battle of Baton Rouge on the museum grounds at 2 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday.

The corn maze also will be open Saturdays from Sept. 29 through October from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

For information on the Burden Horticultural Society, including how to become a volunteer, call [phone]. For information on the Rural Life Museum, call [phone].

Ed Cullen

Advocate staff writer