Scarecrow Fest contest now open
Summer is drawing to a close and autumn is on its way - which means that the 23rd annual St. Charles Scarecrow Festival is just around the corner.
According to Kathy Loubsky, associate director of the St. Charles Convention and Visitors Bureau and festival coordinator, is putting out the call to creative minds that now is the time to think about the festival's mainstay activity - the Scarecrow Contest held each year in Lincoln Park.
Since 1985, the heart of the popular autumn celebration has been the Scarecrow Contest. What started out as a display of just a dozen has now turned into a delightful display of more than 100 scarecrows created by area residents, clubs and businesses.
What exactly is the Scarecrow Contest?
The contest is an opportunity for everyone to tap into his or her artistic and imaginative resources while, at the same time, to have fun creating a scarecrow in one of six categories. The resulting scarecrows range from small to tall, traditional to wildly outrageous to the delight of thousands of festival attendees who each year flock to Lincoln Park to enjoy them.
Loubsky reminds all that entering the contest is absolutely free and open to all: individuals, families, organizations, school groups and businesses - both in St. Charles and out: retail shops, restaurants, service companies and corporations. Contest entry forms are available by calling the St. Charles Convention and Visitors Bureau at (630) 377-6161 or online at www.scarecrowfest.com.
Six distinct categories provide for a wealth of creativity. (All categories may have battery-operated lights. Only mechanical will be provided electricity.)
• Traditional: Creation must closely resemble the residents of farmers' fields and gardeners' vegetable plots of years past. Straw, burlap, flannel shirts, a wood frame and a bit of "whimsy" are all that's needed.
• Whimsical: lots of leeway for expression. Nearly anything goes in this division - as long as it's in good taste. The only restrictions are no movement or sound. (Those are reserved for the mechanical category.)
• Mechanical: Entry can move, shake, talk, twirl, illuminate and be automated - and all entries must use electrical power, provided free by the festival.
• Children's: kids only, ages 12 or younger. Anything goes in this category except mechanical and, to encourage creativity and design, parental participation must be minimal. This also is the only category to feature up to 10 winners.
• St. Charles Business and, new this year, Area Business Categories: Open to all "for-profits" businesses to promote a product, service, restaurant or shop to thousands of festival guests. Anything goes, but please, no handout materials from the scarecrow display.
Each entry is given a categorized sign and voting number upon check-in, which takes place Oct. 10 at the Lincoln Park Information Booth. All entries must be named for identification purposes.
Winners are chosen by popular vote of festival attendees. There is no age limitation but they do ask "one vote per category and per person please!" The top three vote-getters in the Traditional, Whimsical and Mechanical categories receive a cash prize and certificate of appreciation. Ten Scarecrows in the Children's category receive cash prizes and certificates. The top vote earner in the Area Business division receives a free newspaper ad in the Daily Herald and the winner in the St. Charles Business division will receive a free ad in the Kane County Chronicle. Three honorable mentions receive a certificate of achievement and appreciation in this category, as well.
The entry form is due by Oct. 1. Call the St. Charles Visitors Bureau at (630) 377-6161 or go online at www.scarecrowfest.com/contest to download and complete an entry form. Fax or mail the completed form to (630) 513-0566 or drop it off at the visitor bureau offices, 311 N. Second St., St. Charles, IL 60174.