Annual Scarecrow Festival & Contest

A free fun-filled fall celebration for the whole family!

Due to sudden and unforeseen circumstances, we have to cancel our Annual Scarecrow Festival and Contest scheduled for October 17, 2026. At this time, we do not plan to reschedule the event this year, and we are truly grateful for your understanding and support.

 

Festival Highlights

  • Hay rides through the gardens

  • Delicious treats at the bake table

  • Classic cake walk

  • Local food vendors and refreshments

  • Kid-friendly crafts and games

  • Raffles with great prizes

  • Live plant sale

  • Face painting and vendor booths

  • Photo ops with our friendly scarecrows

Whether you're young or young at heart, there's something here to make you smile.

Enter Our Scarecrow Contest

Get creative and help bring the gardens to life with your very own scarecrow! All entries will be displayed throughout the gardens, and the public will vote for their favorites on Festival Day, October 17th. Prizes will be awarded to the top entries in each category.

    • Children and youth groups

    • Adults and families

    • Businesses and organizations

    • Field Scarecrows

    • Entry is FREE and open to all. There’s a cash prize for the winner of each category!

    • Scarecrows may be dropped off between October 6-13, 2026. Participants are responsible for setting up and removing their own scarecrow in the designated area for their chosen category.

    • Scarecrows will remain on display until Festival Day.

    • Be sure to firmly attach your name and phone number to the back of your scarecrow.

    • All scarecrows must be family-friendly and built to withstand outdoor weather.

  • Creating a scarecrow is easier than you think! You’ll need a frame, clothes, stuffing, and some imagination. Need inspiration? Design a scarecrow inspired by your favorite book, movie, singer, hobby — or one that represents your club, business, or organization!

    Materials & Tips

    • Frames: 2x4s, PVC pipe, tomato cages, broom handles, etc.

    • Stuffing: Hay, straw, fiberfill, plastic bags, bubble wrap, pool noodles (avoid newspaper—it gets soggy!)

    • Heads: Stuffed pillowcases, buckets, milk jugs, plant pots, fabric

    YouTube and Pinterest are great places to find scarecrow tutorials and ideas!

Costumed bear character dressed in summer clothes standing outdoors with a garden and trees in the background, holding a sign numbered 93. The bear poses next to a scarecrow dressed in plaid clothing with a sunflower on its waist and a pumpkin at its
A woman sitting on a bench next to a mannequin dressed as Edgar Allan Poe, both are outdoors with pumpkins and autumn decorations around them.
A woman stands outdoors in front of Halloween-themed decorations, including large black and white figures with police theme, a pumpkin balloon, and a decorative tree with blue ornaments. The scene includes a picnic table in the background, trees, and
Three children standing next to a colorful decorative display with a face made of various craft materials, flowers, and tinsel, outdoors in front of leafy bushes.
A scarecrow dressed as a farmer, sitting on a white plastic chair in a garden with green bushes and plants.
Four women and one man dressed as a scarecrow are standing and sitting outdoors on a bright, sunny day with green trees, bushes, and pumpkins around, next to a wooden display with books, plants, and scarecrow figures, including one with a hat and gla
A woman standing outdoors surrounded by green plants and flowers, holding a gardening tool with a scarecrow decoration sitting beside her.
A scarecrow wearing a pink, purple, and teal dress with polka dots, holding a sign that says 'BOO' in a wooded area.
A group of people and children gathered outdoors near trees and grass, participating in an event with some tables and decorations.
Group of seven people, including children and adults, standing outdoors with a scarecrow decorated with a wreath, straw, and a black hat in the center, surrounded by greenery and purple flowers.
Decorative scarecrow made of fabric and straw, adorned with yellow and orange flowers and topped with a colorful hat, placed outdoors on hay bales, with a sign that reads 'Give a Hoot Don't Pollute.'
A woman and a young girl smiling and posing next to a colorful scarecrow with a floral dress and straw hair, in a wooded outdoor area.
Four women standing outdoors with sunflower and garden plants in the background, posing with a scarecrow decorated with a straw hat, colorful clothing, and a painted face.
Woman dressed in a striped shirt and a large sun hat, with face paint and straw accessories, smiling and sitting outdoors.
A scarecrow dressed as a scarecrow sitting in a wooden basket surrounded by fall leaves, with a garden of flowers in the background.
Two women smiling outdoors near a hay bale display with fall-themed decorations, including a floral wreath, pumpkins, and a sign that reads 'Give a cheer, Don't Pollute.'
A young girl sitting outdoors on a dirt ground, smiling, with face paint resembling a butterfly and a mustache, wearing a pink t-shirt and blue jeans.