When you start to feel that autumn chill in the air, you know it can mean only one thing: Scarecrow Weekend is back for the 37th year in downtown St. Charles. Scarecrow Weekend, presented by AAA, is going to be filled with live entertainment, fall activities, local sales and specials, and of course, the Scarecrow Contest. This is a perfect opportunity to dive right into the fall spirit!
Photo Courtesy of the St. Charles Business Alliance
Before you head off to discover everything that Scarecrow Weekend has to offer, be sure to download the Travel St. Charles app. This app shows you all the entertainment and activities taking place throughout the weekend, that way you can be sure you won't miss anything good. It also shows all the shops and restaurants in St. Charles so you'll never run out of things to see and do. Click here to download the app!
Photos Courtesy of the St. Charles Business Alliance
The centerpiece of the event is the Scarecrow Contest that takes place throughout the weekend. You'll be able to vote on your favorite scarecrows that are displayed on 1st Street, Riverside Avenue, Lincoln Park, and throughout downtown. There will be 85+ scarecrows in the Contest, so you will have many to choose from! The four categories for the Scarecrow Contest are:
Mechanical & Mega
Individual
Club/Not-for-Profit & School
Business
Once you've made your final selections, you can take your voting ballot and drop it off at the Lincoln Park Info Booth, the Municipal Building Info Booth, or at the voting box located at the Activity Zone on Riverside Avenue.
Photos Courtesy of the St. Charles Business Alliance
As you pass by and admire all the unique handmade scarecrows, you'll also notice an abundance of fall décor that local shops have displayed for everyone to see. There will be plenty of special sales and promotions in honor of the weekend, as well, so be sure to not miss any great deals that are taking place. The St. Charles History Museum will have a covered wagon with hands-on historical props, popcorn, corn husk doll making, and a sidewalk sale, and Smallcakes will have free frosting shots, as well as mini cupcakes available for purchase. These are just a couple of the numerous promotions going on during Scarecrow Weekend. Many establishments will also be selling food and beverages that you can grab on-the-go, including Mad Batter who will be selling apple cider donuts and other fall treats, and Riverside Pizza & Pub who will be selling pizza by the slice. This way, you'll be able to maximize the amount of time you have to search for your favorite scarecrows. You can view all the special sales and promotions here.
Photo Courtesy of the St. Charles Business Alliance
During the entirety of the weekend, there will be live entertainment in the Family Zone, presented by St. Charles Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, which is located in Lincoln Park. This is a perfect spot to take the whole family, as you'll find plenty to see and do. Jason Kollum's Comedy Juggling and Variety Show, Scott Piner's Magic Show, and a musical performance by local artist Joey Wilbur are just a some of the entertainment you can catch during the weekend. On top of it all, many of the scarecrows in the Mechanical & Mega category will be located here, and you certainly do not want to miss those. You can click here to see the full list of entertainment in the Family Zone.
Photos Courtesy of the St. Charles Business Alliance
Nestled right by the beautiful Fox River is where you'll find Pottawatamie Park - home to the Autumn on the Fox Art and Craft Show, presented by Art of the Heartland. There will be over 100 crafters with handmade products that are available for you to purchase. You'll come across a large selection of jewelry, photography, fall décor, food products and much more. The craft show will be taking place on Friday and Saturday from 10am - 5pm, and on Sunday from 10am - 4pm.
Photos Courtesy of the St. Charles Business Alliance
If the craft show put you in the mood to create something of your own, head over to the Activity Zone on Riverside Avenue, presented by McNally's Heating & Cooling. Here, you'll be able to purchase a Scarecrow in a Box. The Scarecrow in a Box comes with everything you'll need to assemble your own scarecrow - including panty hose, twine, an outfit, straw to stuff the scarecrow with, and of course, directions. The Activity Zone will also feature Touch-A-Truck, where children can look at and touch trucks up close, and Marc Solomon, a professional pumpkin carver that will be creating some incredible designs. When you get your fill of activities, snap a photo at one of the Festive Photo Opportunity stations to capture your remarkable time at Scarecrow Weekend! These are great spots to capture a photo as they feature beautiful fall backdrops such as giant butterfly wings, or straw sculptures from the U.S. National Straw Sculpting Competition in Mt. Morris, Illinois. You can find the entire Activity Zone schedule here.
Come on down to St. Charles and indulge in all the fall festivities that Scarecrow Weekend has to offer! You will be sure to have a memorable experience that your family will never forget. To find more information about Scarecrow Weekend, you can visit www.scarecrowfest.com.