December 04, 2023
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St. Charles’ annual Scarecrow Weekend returns next month

By Shaw Local News Network
Four-year-old Ferin McKinley of St. Charles scurries past a row of scarecrows with his jack-o-lantern ballon during the opening day of Scarecrow Weekend Friday October 7, 2022 in St. Charles. The festival continues from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 9, in downtown St. Charles. The 37th annual festival featuring 85 handcrafted scarecrows on display throughout downtown. Festivalgoers can vote to decide the winners in four categories: mechanical/mega; clubs, nonprofits and schools; individuals; and business.
The family zone in Lincoln Park features live music and dance performances, magic show, giant bubble artist, a photo op area, scarecrow in a box and more. Plus, Touch-A-Truck, professional pumpkin carving and more. Autumn on the Fox Arts and Crafts Show is at Pottawatomie Park.

Four-year-old Ferin McKinley of St. Charles scurries past a row of scarecrows with his jack-o-lantern ballon during the opening day of Scarecrow Weekend Oct. 7, 2022. The 38th Annual Scarecrow Weekend will return to downtown St. Charles on Friday, Oct. 6 through Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023. (Brian Hill/Brian Hill/Daily Herald)

The 38th annual Scarecrow Weekend will return to downtown St. Charles on Friday, Oct. 6, through Sunday, Oct. 8, featuring fall-themed entertainment and activities for all ages.

The Scarecrow Contest will take place throughout the weekend. Guests will have the chance to vote for their favorites among more than 100 scarecrows featured along Riverside Avenue, throughout Lincoln Park and on First Street.

Scarecrow contest entries will be judged in the following categories:

• Mega or Mechanical (open to all)

• Clubs, nonprofits, schools

• Individual (open to individuals and families not affiliated with a business or organization)

• Businesses

Winners in the Mega or Mechanical category will earn $500 for first place, $350 for second place and $250 for third place. In each of the other categories, first place will receive $200, second place will receive $150 and third place will receive $100.

The Family Zone, located in Lincoln Park, will offer family-friendly activities throughout the weekend, including live music, dance teams, family fun booths, roaming entertainment and stage performances from the Tim Gleason Trio, Leslie Hunt and more.

The Activity Zone, located on Riverside Avenue, will offer fall-themed activities for families, including Scarecrow-to-Go scarecrow making kits, a professional pumpkin carver, a fun house maze and a pumpkin painting activity.

Pottawatomie Park will host the Autumn on the Fox Craft Show, which will take place from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday. The show will feature more than 100 crafters with handmade products available to buy.

The St. Charles Breakfast Rotary and the St. Charles Kiwanis Club will be offering food to buy during the weekend events in the parking lot in front of City Hall. St. Patrick parish will be selling food throughout the weekend on their front lawn across from Lincoln Park.

Many local businesses will be having special sales and promotions during Scarecrow Weekend. For a list of promotional events and special sales, visit the festival website.

“Scarecrow Weekend is always a very special event in St. Charles due to its long-standing history and tradition,” St. Charles Business Alliance executive director Jenna 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 and Cooling, St. Charles Bank and Trust, AAA, Meijer, McGrath Honda of St. Charles, Comcast, Gerald Subaru, Art of the Heartland, Meijer St. Charles, Theriault Booth Attorneys at Law, Route 64 Dental and Blackhawk Bank.

For more information on Scarecrow Weekend, visit their website, or call the St. Charles Business Alliance at 630-443-3967.

St. CharlesKane County