This Is Illinois' Best Fall Festival

ST. CHARLES, IL — From pumpkins to scarecrows to Halloween fests, towns across the country — including here in the Chicago area — are finding ways to celebrate the season with fall-themed fun.

'Tis the season for fall festivals, and all across America, incredible seasonal fairs are finding astonishingly creative ways to enjoy pumpkins, from a literal pumpkin regatta in Oregon (exactly as it sounds) to 7,000 illuminated jack-o’-lanterns floating in New York’s Hudson River, with the city skyline in the distant backdrop.

Meanwhile in Illinois, a festival celebrating another fall favorite — the scarecrow — is ranked high on the list of fall festivities.

The "Today" show compiled a list of each state’s best fall festival in 2021 (even though some have been postponed until 2022). From a hot air balloon festival in Mississippi to a cowboy festival in Missouri to an evil sea witch festival in Delaware to Oktoberfest in Oklahoma, this list shows off the diversity and creativity that still animate the United States, even in the middle of a pandemic.

Illinois' Best Fest

St. Charles' Scarecrow Festival, set for Oct. 8 to 10 in downtown St. Charles, was named Illinois' best fall fest by "Today."

This year, the festival marks its 36th year. Organized by the St. Charles Business Alliance and presented by AAA, the Scarecrow Festival will showcase 85 handmade scarecrows. Visitors can view the scarecrows and vote for their favorites in the following categories:

• Mechanical & Mega Category
• Individuals Scarecrow Category
• Clubs, Not-for-profits & Schools
• Business Scarecrow Category

Scarecrow fest hours are noon to 6 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday.

The Scarecrow Festival also offers a professional pumpkin carving demonstration, a Family Zone in Lincoln Park with live, kid-friendly entertainment and activities, a photo op area, the Autumn on the Fox Craft Show in Pottawatomie Park and more. The craft show will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.

Guests can also purchase a "Scarecrow in a Box" kit to build their own scarecrow at home. Each box includes panty hose, twine, an outfit, straw to stuff the scarecrow and directions. Boxes will be sold on Riverside Avenue throughout the fest.

In addition to the festival, scarecrows will be spread around St. Charles to support local businesses offering Scarecrow Festival-related deals, specials and events. The tradition began last year, with organizers scattering scarecrows around town to encourage social distancing due to the coronavirus pandemic and to boost local businesses. A Scarecrow Stroll map will be available for visitors so they can see the scarecrows and support participating businesses.

There's plenty of other fall fun to be had in the Chicago area. Scare up some fun with these autumn activities:

• Haunted Illinois: 11 Ghost Tours In Chicago And Elsewhere
• Best Chicago-Area Pumpkin Patches And Corn Mazes 2021
• Apple Orchards To Visit Fall 2021 In The Chicago Area: Guide
• Halloween 2021: Submit Your Haunt For Patch's Tour o' Scary Yards

Pumpkins, Pumpkins, Pumpkins

Pumpkins are playing a particularly plump role in this year’s festivals. The vast majority of states feature a pumpkin patch, and plenty of pumpkin-related treats to go with them. But some festivals are taking pumpkin loving to a new level.

Related: Halloween 101: Everything You Need For A Super-Festive Front Door

In Maryland, the O.C.-toberfest allows visitors to race pumpkin cars down a track. In Minnesota, Shakopee’s Fall Festival has a “pumpkin blasting” attraction that throttles full-size pumpkins into the air. In North Dakota, kids can play a life-size Tic Tac Toe using actual pumpkins at Fall in Fargo. In Ohio, the Great Pumpkin Glow features 1,000 illuminated pumpkins visitors can walk through.

Here’s the “Today” show’s complete list by state.

1. Alabama: Coastal BirdFest
2. Alaska: Alaska Day Festival
3. Arizona: Taco Festival (postponed to April, 2022)
4. Arkansas: Timberfest
5. California: Sonoma’s County Harvest Festival (postponed to 2022)
6. Colorado: Brecktoberfest
7. Connecticut: Olde Mistick Village Garlic Festival
8. Delaware: Sea Witch Festival
9. Florida: Suwannee Hulaween
10. Georgia: Duluth Fall Festival
11. Hawaii: Kona Coffee Cultural Festival
12. Idaho: Trailing of the Sheep
13. Illinois: Scarecrow Festival
14. Indiana: Festival of the Turning Leaves
15. Iowa: Madison County Covered Bridge Festival
16. Kansas: Renaissance and Scottish Fall Festival
17. Kentucky: World Chicken Festival
18. Louisiana: International Rice Festival
19. Maine: Acadia Night Sky Festival
20. Maryland: O.C.-toberfest
21. Massachusetts: The Big E
22. Michigan: Grand Ledge Fall Festival
23. Minnesota: Shakopee’s Fall Festival
24. Mississippi: Natchez Balloon Festival
25. Missouri: National Crafts and Cowboy Festival
26. Montana: Fresh Hop Festival
27. Nebraska: Autumn Festival
28. Nevada: RiSE Festival
29. New Hampshire: Hay Day
30. New Jersey: Allentown Fall Festival
31. New Mexico: Santa Fe Wine and Chile Fiesta
32. New York: Jack O’Lantern Blaze
33. North Carolina: Autumn Leaves Festival
34. North Dakota: Fall in Fargo
35. Ohio: Great Pumpkin Glow
36. Oklahoma: Linde Oktoberfest
37. Oregon: West Coast Giant Pumpkin Regatta (canceled)
38. Pennsylvania: Apple Harvest Festival
39. Rhode Island: Ocean State Oyster Fest
40. South Carolina: Callaham Orchards
41. South Dakota: Oktoberfest
42. Tennessee: Dollywood’s Harvest Festival
43. Texas: Autumn at the Arboretum
44. Utah: Fall Festival and Draft Horse Show
45. Vermont: Pumpkin Chuckin’ Festival
46. Virginia: Fall at Mount Vernon
47. Washington: Boo! Seattle
48. West Virginia: Roadkill Cook-Off (canceled)
49. Wisconsin: Cranberry Fest
50. Wyoming: Jackson Hole Fall Arts Festival