Annual Scarecrow Stroll delights St. Charles residents and visitors
The Scarecrow Festival has been a staple in St. Charles for 35 years. Although the 2020 event looked different because of the pandemic, St. Charles was still able to bring joy and festivities to the area's downtown, while following social distancing guidelines and keeping families safe. For the weekend of Oct. 9-11, scarecrows decorated by local businesses were spread around town for people to stroll by, view, and vote for their favorites. While the event was scaled back from prior years due to safety guidelines required by the state due to COVID, visitors still participated in a number of family-friendly and fall-inspired activities.
"In addition to The Scarecrow Stroll, the weekend also featured a scavenger hunt throughout the downtown, a Craft Beer Box featuring seasonal beers from St. Charles breweries, and several mini activities including Scarecrow In a Box," said Jenna Sawicki, Executive Director of the St. Charles Business Alliance. "There was also a Drive-In Concert in partnership with the St. Charles Park District."
The Scarecrow Stroll was made possible through generous donations from local businesses, including Gerald Subaru of North Aurora. This year, Gerald Subaru hosted a Photo Opportunity Area at the fest. The dealership sponsored three lovely fall displays that families could take photos in front of while using fun fall quote bubbles during their photoshoots. Many residents attended the Scarecrow Stroll with several generations of family members and snapped adorable photos that may well grace the front of hundreds of holiday cards in the coming months.
"Gerald is always so creative and fun to work with. They want to help us create a fun event and always come in with ideas to make their sponsorship even better," said Sawicki.
The Scarecrow stroll was a wonderful opportunity for families to see each other in an outdoor and socially distanced setting while enjoying the fall traditions that they know and look forward to every year. Through this event, St. Charles was able to come together and enjoy the pastimes that give this area its small-town charm.
"We couldn't do any events if it wasn't for the generosity of our sponsors like Gerald. They keep our community going, help make our events great, and create cherished memories for the community," said Sawicki.
In addition to the Instagram-worthy photo spots, Gerald Subaru provided ChapStick to passersby to help combat the chilly fall and winter air already hitting Chicago and its suburbs.
"Gerald Subaru loves being a sponsor for the city of St. Charles. While this year's Scarecrow event may have looked a bit different than in the past, one thing that remained the same was the outpouring of support from residents and visitors alike that came to choose their favorite and support the local businesses," said Donna Lawler, General Manager of Gerald Subaru of North Aurora.