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Meridian Waste Celebrates A-MAZE-ing Community Fun at Tri-Corners Landfill's Annual Pumpkin Patch
Meridian Waste welcomed more than 300 guests to its annual A-MAZE-ing Pumpkin Patch on Saturday, October 24, at the company's Tri-Corners Landfill in Liberty, N.C. The FREE, family-friendly celebration brought together neighbors, local businesses, community organizations and Meridian Waste team members for a festive day filled with pumpkins, costumes, treats and plenty of fall fun.
"Kids" of all ages enjoyed a full lineup of autumn adventures, including inflatable attractions, pumpkin painting, creative craft projects and the always-popular corn maze, complete with spooky decorations and Halloween surprises. Guests also explored a pumpkin patch featuring more than 200 pumpkins, with donations benefiting The Invictus Group, adding a meaningful charitable component to the day's festivities.
And because no Meridian Waste community celebration is complete without great food and warm hospitality, guests enjoyed a delicious chicken finger lunch catered by Yesterday's Grill, followed by freshly roasted s'mores generously sponsored by Couch Oil.
The popular Truck-n-Treat parade brought an impressive lineup of local businesses, community organizations and service vehicles to the landfill, giving children the opportunity to explore the equipment that helps keep their communities running. Meridian Waste's own heavy-duty landfill equipment, including its massive compactor and bulldozer, provided larger-than-life excitement and a hands-on introduction to the environmental services industry.
A signature highlight of Meridian Waste's community events, the landfill hayride tours, gave guests a behind-the-scenes look at the daily operations, specialized equipment and environmental practices involved in safely managing the region's solid waste. More than just a fun ride, these educational tours are a cornerstone of Meridian Waste's community outreach efforts, helping guests of all ages better understand the essential role modern landfills play in protecting the environment and maintaining clean, healthy communities.
One of the day's biggest surprises came courtesy of the Alamance County Sheriff's Department, which took Halloween fun to new heights by flying its security drone over the festivities and dropping candy and miniature parachutes for excited children to collect. The unexpected aerial delivery brought plenty of smiles and added a memorable twist to the traditional Halloween celebration.
New to this year's festivities was the inaugural A-MAZE-ing Halloween Costume Contest, inviting young guests to show off their creativity, imagination and Halloween spirit. Contestants competed in three age divisions—ages 2–4, 5–7 and 8–10—with awards recognizing Best Overall Costume, Funniest Costume and Most Creative/Original Costume.
2026 Halloween Costume Contest Winners:
Age Group | Best Overall Costume | Funniest Costume | Most Creative/Original Costume |
Ages 2–4 | Parker Strickland | Adam King | Cecil Ackins |
Ages 5–7 | Rowan Jenson | Elias Carter | Dallas Powell |
Ages 8–10 | Kerston Jackson | Royal Rutledge | Dash Jenson |
"There's something special about welcoming our neighbors to the landfill for a day that's all about family, fun and community," said Josh Gustaf, General Manager, Tri-Corner’s Landfill. "Our A-MAZE-ing Pumpkin Patch gives families an opportunity to experience our facilities in a completely different way, meet the hardworking people behind the trucks and equipment, and see firsthand how Meridian Waste is committed to the communities we serve. We're especially grateful to our local business partners, first responders and employee volunteers who helped make this year's event such a wonderful success."
The annual celebration reflects Meridian Waste's ongoing commitment to being more than a waste services provider. Through free community events, educational experiences and charitable partnerships, the company strives to build lasting relationships with the neighbors it serves while promoting the importance of clean, healthy and environmentally responsible communities.
Meridian Waste extends its sincere appreciation to the local businesses, community organizations, first responders and dedicated employee volunteers who generously contributed their time, talents and resources to make the 2026 A-MAZE-ing Pumpkin Patch a memorable fall tradition for more than 300 guests.
