Vote on scarecrows and build your own at St. Charles Scarecrow Weekend
Scarecrow Weekend returns for its 38th year on Oct. 6-8 in downtown St. Charles, with its popular Scarecrow Contest, fall-themed activities for all ages, and musical entertainment.
The Scarecrow Contest, which is the centerpiece event, offers visitors the opportunity to vote on their favorite scarecrows all weekend.
There will be 100-plus scarecrows across four different categories: Individual/Family, Business, Club/Nonprofit/School, and Mechanical/Mega.
Most of the scarecrows will be placed along Riverside Avenue and First Street, as well as in Lincoln Park.
After voting, participants can pick up their "I Voted" sticker from the information booths.
The Family Zone in Lincoln Park will offer family-friendly activities along with live music, dance teams, family fun booths, and roaming entertainment.
There will be roaming entertainment from magician Scott Piner, Glowby the Bubbler and The Windy City Ghostbusters, and stage performances by St. Charles Dance Company, Elite Academy of Dance and Batavia Academy of Dance on Friday; Thompson Middle School Choir, Marquee Youth Stage and Moves Dance Studio on Saturday; and Dance Dynamics and 3rd Street Dance on Sunday.
Musical entertainment will feature The Collective on Friday; Paul & Jay and the Leslie Hunt Band on Saturday, and the Tim Gleason Trio and Gregory Hyde on Sunday.
Scarecrows that are part of the Mechanical/Mega and Individual categories will be set up in the Lincoln Park Family Zone.
In the Activity Zone on Riverside Avenue, visitors will find more family-friendly fall-themed activities, including Scarecrow-to-Go, which has everything needed to make a scarecrow.
There also will be a professional pumpkin carver, a fun house maze, and a pumpkin painting activity, as well as many more handmade scarecrows to view.
Art of the Heartland's popular Autumn on the Fox Craft Show returns to Pottawatomie Park from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. It features more than 100 crafters selling handmade products.
The St. Charles Breakfast Rotary and the St. Charles Kiwanis Club are selling food throughout the weekend in the front municipal parking lot. St. Patrick Parish members also will be selling food on the church's front lawn across from the Lincoln Park Family Zone.
As part of the festival weekend, many local businesses will be having special sales and promotions; see details at scarecrowfest.com/salesandspecials.
Jenna Sawicki, executive director of the St. Charles Business Alliance, says she is excited for another year of this community tradition.
"Scarecrow Weekend is always a very special event in St. Charles due to its long-standing history and tradition," Sawicki said. "It's a great chance to celebrate the season with the community, while having the chance to explore the downtown area and all the wonderful businesses."
The Presenting Sponsor for Scarecrow Weekend is St. Charles Chrysler Dodge Jeep and Ram. Additional Sponsors include McNally's Heating & Cooling, St. Charles Bank & Trust, AAA, Meijer, McGrath Honda of St. Charles, Comcast, Gerald Subaru, Art of the Heartland, Meijer St. Charles, Theriault Booth LLC. Attorneys at Law, Route 64 Dental, and Blackhawk Bank.
For details on Scarecrow Weekend, visit scarecrowfest.com, or call the St. Charles Business Alliance at (630) 443-3967.