CENTRE WELLINGTON – Local residents are being invited to line their lawns with scarecrows, but not for their intended purpose.
The Walk & Gawk Scarecrow Tour & Challenge is a creative competition for anyone in Centre Wellington to create a scarecrow for their lawn.
These are then listed and put on a map for those interested to take a tour and vote for their favourite.
“It’s an invitation for anybody to make a scarecrow but not purchase one,” said event creator Julie Denneny, clarifying the purpose is for it to be a creative project.
Denneny said she considers the scarecrow tour to be a “reverse parade.”
“Because you go out and walk around and see the things on display rather than the things on display walking by you,” Denneny said.
Last year there were 38 participating households throughout Centre Wellington.
“Some people do huge groups, some people just do an individual (scarecrow) and creepy or happy or scary,” Denneny said. “Anyway, they were wonderful. Last year there were some really great creations.”
Denneny said those interested in participating can email a picture of their scarecrow to [email protected] to receive a sign and number to place on their lawn, indicating they are a part of the contest.
She stressed kids and adults alike can handle scary things but to keep scarecrows relatively family-friendly.
Households are limited to one entry but displays can include multiple scarecrows and other decorations.
Those who tour can vote for their favourite entry by emailing the entry number to [email protected]. When the map is ready it can be found at their Facebook page.
Local businesses have donated prizes for those who receive the most votes.
Denneny explained this event was originally conceived and run back in 2012 and 2013 as an easy way to boost the amount of activities during monster month.
The event made a comeback last year as the usual monster march through Elora, an event also originally conceived and organized by Denneny, was cancelled.
Organizers decided they couldn’t go forward with the parade again this year due to the difficulty in enforcing social distancing and changing public health rules related to outdoor gatherings.
Because the usual parade wasn’t going forward again, Denneny said she still wanted to provide a family-friendly fun experience like the parade.
However, Denneny acknowledged it is disappointing to not have the parade go forward as someone who has always loved dressing up for Halloween.
“I love it so much and I know that people love it as well because there’s always so many people involved either watching or marching because it’s just something really fun and ‘small towney,’” Denneny said.
Entries will be up Oct. 20 to 31.
