Barrington's Scarecrow Festival features lots of straw, pumpkins

If the colder weather and colorful leaves weren't good enough signs that autumn has arrived in the Northwest suburbs, Barrington held its 18th annual Scarecrow Festival on Saturday.

People packed Memorial Park to make scarecrows and to decorate pumpkins and sugar cookies as a DJ played spooky music from the Rolling Stones, Ministry and other bands. Youngsters enjoyed pony rides and got their faces painted, too.

Ten-year-olds Mia Baldassano and Payton Pitcher teamed up to build a scarecrow, adorning it with a plaid shirt and a red shawl.

Both girls said they enjoy fall.

"I like seeing all the different costumes at Halloween," Mia explained. "And I like how it's getting cool but it's not so so cold."

Elgin residents Mandy and Craig Haacker brought their four children to the autumnal gathering. They've been trying to get to a Chicago-area festival each weekend.

"They've been wanting to paint pumpkins," Mandy Haacker said of the kids. "It's even better to have it here and not (be) my mess to clean up."

The festival coincides with a scarecrow-decorating contest featuring creations that can be found in downtown Barrington and elsewhere in town. The scarecrows can be viewed online at barrington-il.gov/residents/events/scarecrow-festival-2017.