Scarecrow Festival Is Back: What You Need To Know If You Go

ST. CHARLES, IL — It's that time of year again.

The 38th annual St. Charles Scarecrow weekend is underway, with fun festivities planned through Sunday in downtown St. Charles. Throughout the weekend, there will be an array of fall-themed entertainment and activities for all ages, according to a news release.

“Scarecrow Weekend is always a very special event in St. Charles due to its long-standing history and tradition,” said Jenna Sawicki, executive director for the St. Charles Business Alliance. “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 centerpiece of the event, the Scarecrow Contest, will be taking place throughout the weekend and will give individuals the chance to vote on their favorite scarecrows. There will be more than scarecrows this year, with most of the scarecrows on display on Riverside Avenue, Lincoln Park and 1st Street.

Winners will be picked in four different categories categories: Individual/Family, Business, Club/Not-for-Profit/School, and Mechanical/Mega. After voting, participants will be able to pick up their exclusive “I Voted” sticker from an information booth, according to a news release.

This year's family zone can be found at Lincoln Park and will offer many family-friendly activities during the weekend along with live music, dance teams, family fun booths and roaming entertainment.

Some of the entertainment that will be featured includes roaming entertainment from Glowby the Bubbler and The Windy City Ghostbusters, and stage performances from the Tim Gleason Trio, Leslie Hunt and more.

Scarecrows that are part of the Mechanical/Mega and Individual categories will be found in the Lincoln Park Family Zone, according to the news release.

The Activity Zone will be found on Riverside Avenue and will include several family-friendly fall-themed activities to participate in, including Scarecrow-to-Go, which will have everything needed to make a scarecrow.

Also located in the Activity Zone will be 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 run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday. The craft show will feature more than 100 crafters, with handmade products that are available for purchase.

The St. Charles Breakfast Rotary and the St. Charles Kiwanis Club will be offering food for purchase during the weekend and will be located in the front Municipal parking lot. St. Patrick Parish will also be selling food in their front lawn across from the Lincoln Park family zone.

More information on Scarecrow Fest can be found online.