10 Scarecrow Festivals You Won't Want to Miss This Fall

Experience creative scarecrow competitions across America and Canada this fall.

By: Jeff Stafford

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Photo By: Courtesy of the Cambria Scarecrow Festival

Photo By: Peddler's Village

Photo By: Meg Craig

Photo By: Thanksgiving Point

Photo By: Brechin and Beyond

Photo By: Village of Oxford

Photo By: Mile Murtanovski

Photo By: Alpharetta Convention & Visitors Bureau

Photo By: Trenton Downtown Event Planners Inc.

Cambria, California

Autumn is a time to celebrate the fall season and across the U.S. and Canada there are countless festivals that are centered around their local community’s traditions, whether it be an apple or pumpkin harvest or a Bavarian-style Octoberfest. In recent years scarecrow festivals have become increasingly popular and part of the fun is seeing community members come up with wildly creative designs for the competition like this Instagram-ready Day of the Dead homage at the Cambria Scarecrow Festival on the Central Coast of California near San Simeon.

Lahaska, Pennsylvania

This annual Scarecrow Festival in Peddlers Village in Lahaska, Pa. is celebrating its 39th year and some of the fun festivities include pumpkin painting, live musical acts and scarecrow-making workshops where you can learn to create artistic masterpieces like this artful first place prize winner.

Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia

First established in 1996, the Mahone Bay Scarecrow Festival & Antique Fair kicks off with an exhibition of over 200 hand-made, life-size scarecrows like the one featured. Other festivities include a nighttime pumpkin walk, a quilt jamboree, graveyard tours and one of the largest antique shows in the Maritimes.

St. Charles, Illinois

A fun-filled family event, the 33rd Annual Scarecrow Fest in St. Charles displays over 100 handmade and mechanical scarecrows that include such pop culture inspiration as this The Wizard of Oz homage. Other attractions include carnival rides, local artisan foods, live music and an arts and crafts show.

Thanksgiving Point, Utah

Pumpkins might be the big attraction at Thanksgiving Point’s annual Harvest Festival in late September but scarecrows become the main event at their mid-October scarecrow competition at Ashton Gardens. Kids, families and friends come together to create delightful life-size creations like this familiar duo from the Star Wars series.

Brechin, Ontario

This bull-riding cowboy scarecrow is typical of the many imaginative figures you’ll see at the Brechin Scarecrow Festival. Kids can enjoy pumpkin painting, games and activities while their parents can browse the vendors' market or relax in the beer garden.

Oxford, Michigan

One of the most popular fall events in Oxford is their annual Scarecrow Contest which is part of a day-long event that includes a pet parade, chili cook-off, pie-eating contest, face painting, live music and a children’s costume march.

Prince Edward County, Ontario

A two-day event that takes place at the Small Pond Arts center in Picton, Ontario, the annual Scarecrow Festival is a beloved tradition that celebrates creativity in the community and the many scenic wonders of this agricultural region.

Alpharetta, Georgia

Over 120 colorful, life-size scarecrows are created each year for the annual Scarecrow Harvest in Alpharetta. School kids, civic groups, families, non-profit organizations and anyone else who wants to enter can compete in this fun event which also includes hay rides, face painting, storytelling and local food vendors.

Trenton, Michigan

How about a pterodactyl scarecrow? Now celebrating its 16th year, the Downriver Fall Festival in Trenton (Metro Detroit, Michigan) is the place to test your scarecrow-making talents against other competitors in an event that also includes a carnival, games, live music and other family activities.

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10 Scarecrow Festivals You Won't Want to Miss This Fall

Related To:

Shop This Look

Cambria, California

Lahaska, Pennsylvania

Mahone Bay, Nova Scotia

St. Charles, Illinois

Thanksgiving Point, Utah

Brechin, Ontario

Oxford, Michigan

Prince Edward County, Ontario

Alpharetta, Georgia

Trenton, Michigan

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