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Scarecrow Fest brings fall fun to St. Charles

St. Charles' perennial favorite, Scarecrow Festival, will return for the 30th time this weekend, offering activities and entertainment for families from all over the Midwest.

"The last two years we've consistently had 100,000 people attending," said DeAnn Wagner, associate director of the Greater St. Charles Convention and Visitors Bureau.

"We conduct surveys during the festival to see where people are from and whether they are returning to the festival, and based on that, we know that there are people who came from two different countries and over 100 Illinois communities and 23 different states," she said.

This year's attendees will find some new attractions, including a tribute to soda pop with two components, according to Wagner.

"It's called the Soda Pop Tour," she said. "There is a section of it where visitors can sample over 100 different craft sodas and there is another component that is a Coca-Cola museum."

"We'll have over 100 craft sodas available for sampling at just 50-cents per sample, or you can buy a VIP Super Soda Taster ticket for just $20 and sample as many as you'd like for one price," said Michael Armintrout, representative for Jay Goldberg Events and Entertainment, which produces the exhibit.

"We will also have a general store at the Scarecrow Fest where patrons will be able to buy six-packs of their favorites sodas. Delicious flavors from Goose Island, Jelly Belly, Sioux City and Cicero brands will all be available."

The Coca-Cola Mobile Museum, owned by collector David Lee, is also represented by the same production company and includes walk-in semitrailers and vans full of Coca-Cola Collectibles. "David Lee has spent 25 years collecting Coke memorabilia and here's your chance to see his amazing collection," said Armintrout.

Also new to the fair this year are two areas dedicated to the ubiquitous selfie.

"We've had a local artist make a photo op station so people can have their photos with 'The Wizard of Oz' theme, and The School of Art in Geneva will be doing another display, probably with scarecrows," Wagner said.

Along with the new offerings are two crowd favorites, according to Wagner: the Scarecrow Contest and the Autumn on the Fox Craft Show, which includes 150 vendors and is juried.

"Everything is hand crafted," Wagner said.

The Scarecrow Contest has five categories, including Clubs, Not-For-Profits and Individual contest, the Mechanical, and the Family, which is geared toward kids younger than 12 and allows adult input and local business offerings. The fifth and newest category is Mega Scarecrow, which allows the entrant more space than the four-by-six-feet usually allocated.

All include cash prizes within their category.

Ken Eynik has been a perpetual winner in the Mechanical category over the years.

"I've won 13 or 14 first places," he said.

Although the cash is nice, Eynik seems to enter the contest simply for the pleasure of figuring out how to make his visions come to life.

"It's a challenge, but it's fun," he said. This year, he began with a jungle theme, suggested by his daughter, and started tinkering in January. "I needed to get everything in one spot. I have a car radio for the sound and instead of using a CD, I used MP3 players. Every year you change things and hope it will come off."

His past projects have included a Purple People Eater, Yellow Submarine and Noah's Ark, which he counts as his favorite.

"There was a motorcycle with two wolves on it," Eynik said.

This year's project will include jungle animals and the song "The Lion Sleeps Tonight," but whether or not he adds to his wins, he knows he'll have a good time.

"I love being there and having fun at the place," Eynik said "I have family and friends get together; everyone has a great time."

Wagner enjoys the contest as well.

"The Scarecrow contest is always fun to see because we have 100 different entries and these are all made by the local community people and organizers" she said. "It's fun to see people's creativity come out, because if there's a popular movie we might see some of that. There's always so many great ideas."

Attendees can also discover their creative side by making their own scarecrows with materials provided by the festival, with some help from their neighbors.

"We have Boy Scout Troop 60 from St. Charles, who makes sure all of the materials are there and present," Wagner said.

"We work with Savers; they donate clothes for the event, and Fifth Third Bank has sponsored the event for years."

There is also live entertainment throughout the weekend, a Windy City Amusements Carnival, and a number of free children's activities as well as free admission, parking, trolleys and parking shuttles.

Another way to participate is to volunteer. The festival is looking for volunteers to work as a soda jerk, general store helper and information helpers. For details, visit www.scarecrowfest.com or call (800) 777-4373.

  Zach Janikoski, 10, of Sleepy Hollow, hoists up the scarecrow he and his dad John made at last year's St. Charles Scarecrow Fest. Rick West/rwest@dailyherald.com

If you go

What: 30th annual St. Charles Scarecrow Fest

When: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 9-10; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 11

Where: Downtown St. Charles, along Main Street between Fifth and Second streets

Admission: Free

Details: <a href="http://www.scarecrowfest.com">www.scarecrowfest.com</a> or (800) 777-4373

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