Scarecrows draw big crowds to St. Charles
Thousands of people jammed St. Charles Saturday under sunny skies and warm temperatures for the 23rd annual Scarecrow Festival.
Children rode carnival rides, had their faces painted, and listened to stories, while parents and grandparents heard live music and voted for their favorite scarecrow.
More than 100 scarecrows will be on display for one more day Sunday in Lincoln Park. Festivalgoers also can always make their own scarecrow at two "Make Your Own Scarecrow" areas, complete with plenty of straw and old clothes.
On Saturday, Jennifer and Bill Kuta of Bartlett, who have been coming to the festival for more than a decade, stuffed straw into the lilac pajamas outgrown by their daughter, Briana, age 17 months.
"It's a tradition," Jennifer Kuta said, holding Briana. The pint-size scarecrow was in the stroller. "We bring our own old clothes. Our parents used to drag us here when we were kids. For me, the fun part was looking at all the scarecrows. Hopefully, Briana will get a kick out of it someday."
"Make Your Own Scarecrow" is sponsored by Boy Scout Troop 60 of St. Charles, which raises money for camping equipment through donations, or tips. Scouts hand out twine and help stuff straw into old shirts and pants when someone needs help.
Marcy Lopez of St. Charles hadn't been to the festival for some years, but Saturday she brought her daughters, Lorna, 8, and Danielle, 4.
"They're at an age when it's fun," Lopez said. Lorna held her Mickey Mouse scarecrow, Danielle had created one she called Baby Bear.
Raul Esparza has been making the trip from his Chicago home near Midway Airport for more than 20 years.
"We were here at 9 a.m. to make our scarecrow," Esparza said. "We'll put it in front of our house."
The festival runs from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday in downtown St. Charles. For a map and schedule, visit scarecrowfest.com.
The 23rd annual festival wraps up today, along Main Street and at Lincoln Park, Fourth and Main streets in downtown St. Charles. For details, visit scarecrowfest.com or call (630) 377-6161.
SUNDAY
9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Autumn on the Fox arts and crafts show
9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Chicago Corvette Club Show and toddlers mini-vette rides
9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Ambition Dance
10 a.m., noon, 2 and 4 p.m. Storytelling Tales Tent
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Make Your Own Scarecrow
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Road Rally and Boy Scout Small Car Race
10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Valley Model Railroad Exhibit; donations accepted
10:30 to 11:45 a.m. Bruce Korosa Orchestra
11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Petting zoo. Admission is $2 per child or free for under 2 years
11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Carnival rides
11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Radio Disney Road Crew offers music, fun, games and prizes for the whole family
Noon to 4 p.m. St. Charles History Museum
1 and 4 p.m. Free tours of the Historic Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St.
1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Paul Willaert, Bazillion Song Man
2 and 5 p.m. "The Wizard of Oz" on screen at the Arcada; donations accepted. For details, call (630) 587-8400 or visit www.oshows.com
3 to 6 p.m. OD TAPO IMI, sometimes described as "Jimmy Buffett meets the Blue Man Group" performs