Hayrides traditionally have been held as celebratory activities, usually in connection to celebration of the
autumn harvest. Hayrides originated with
farmhands and working farm children riding loaded hay wagons back to the barn for unloading, which was one of the few times during the day one could stop to rest during the frenetic days of the haying season. By the late 19th century and the spread of the railroads,
tourism and
summer vacations in the country had become popular with
urban families, many of whom had read idealized accounts of hayrides in
children's books. To capitalize on the demand, local farmers began offering "genuine hayrides" on wagons loaded with hay, since one could make more
cash income selling rides to "summer people" than by selling the same wagon-load of hay (although most farmers did both). During this era, farming was transforming from a
subsistence system to a
cash system, and there were few options for bringing real money into the average farm. Over time the hayride became a real tradition, although the original concept of riding on top of a load of hay was gradually replaced with a simple ride in a wagon sitting on a layer of hay intended to cushion the ride. This was considered far safer than (if not as fun as) riding perched 15-20 feet on top of a slippery pile of hay on a moving vehicle. Contemporary hayrides are often organized commercially, providing an additional source of income for farms or existing on their own as an enfranchised activity during the fall season. During fall, a hayride may feature a stop at a pumpkin patch where passengers can pick a
pumpkin or be dropped off to pick apples. Hayrides may also deliver customers to the entrance of a
corn maze. ==Haunted hayrides==