Manhattan's 'Scarecrows On Parade' Needs More Participants: Village

MANHATTAN, IL — Manhattan residents with a creative flair are invited to show off their skills, with the return of Scarecrows on Parade.

Signup for Scarecrows on Parade is open now, giving residents a chance to put their creativity on display. Scarecrows decorated by residents and businesses will be on display along US Route 52 and in the Wabash parking lot, Oct. 20–31.

Scarecrow frames are available for free, and can be picked up at Village Hall, 260 Market Pl. Registration is open now and is available online.

"Calling all Manhattan residents, organizations, and businesses—get ready to unleash your creativity!" the Village said. "Gather your old clothes, art supplies, and imagination to transform straw, wood, and burlap into unique scarecrow characters that will be proudly displayed along U.S. Route 52."

Completed scarecrows must be returned to Village Hall by Friday, October 17 during business hours. The scarecrows will be entered into a contest—best overall scarecrow wins a $250 Visa gift card, and second place wins a $150 Visa gift card. Winners will be announced at the November 4 Village Board Meeting.

The scarecrow contest is family friendly, the Village emphasizes. Scarecrows should be "whimsical, humorous, mischievous or lovable—NOT frightening. Monsters, gruesome, bloody or especially scary entries will be disqualified."

Once the fun is over, scarecrow tear-down runs from November 1–7. Participants who want to keep their clothing or decorations should remove them during this time.