Kathleen Lao of St. Charles said she became a local resident just two months ago but that she has already found about an annual attraction she plans to revisit over and over.
“We recently moved here and found out about this scarecrow festival and it’s just wonderful,” she said as she walked by dozens of hay-stuffed creations that were decorating Riverside Avenue Friday afternoon as part of the annual Scarecrow Weekend festival in St. Charles.
“I understand this is a community tradition and I love the area,” she said. “I have a baby on the way and this will definitely be something I’ll come back for.”
St. Charles is awash with colorful creations and plenty of autumn activities this weekend as the St. Charles Business Alliance and its sponsors present the 41st annual Scarecrow Weekend, a three-day festival that opened Friday and continues on through Sunday afternoon.
Officials with the fest said more than 120 scarecrows are in place downtown along with live music, children’s activities, food, entertainment and more.
According to a press release from the St. Charles Business Alliance, a scarecrow contest is offered where “visitors can vote for their favorites in four categories” including those made by individuals along with clubs, not-for-profits and businesses.
The Lincoln Park area, the release said, he been “transformed into the festival’s Family Zone, featuring live music, dance teams, activity booths and roaming entertainment.”
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St. Charles Business Alliance Executive Director Jenna Sawicki said the scarecrow total at the fest “is slightly higher than last year and we’re very happy with the number.”
“This is the highest total we’ve had since COVID. I think this has lasted more than four decades because people love to celebrate the great weather in the fall and I think people like to come together as a community and celebrate St. Charles and all the businesses we have here,” she said. “It’s a great way to get out and see your friends, see your neighbors, and family. It’s a free event for the community.”
Over its three days, officials said about 80,000 people will come to the event.
Lao’s friend, Monique Hillestad of Hanover Park, said this was also her first visit to the scarecrow fest and that she brought her son, Emerson, who is just 10 weeks old.
“I know he’s too young to do anything now, but it’s still fun pushing him around in the stroller outside and we get to enjoy all the decorations and pumpkins,” she said of bringing her young son to the event.
Cristin Wetzel of St. Charles said she has lived in town for almost a decade and has been to the scarecrow fest many times.
“This is a free fun thing for the kids. There’s something for all ages and it’s kind of spread out so it brings you from that side of the river to this side and you can make stops in between,” she said while her children checked out some scarecrows. “The kids really like the corn maze and making the pumpkins which is also free and the scarecrows are funny. A lot of them are focused on the kids and there are some interactive ones on the other side of the river.”
Wetzel said the event “has gotten a little bigger each year.”
“There’s the build-your-own scarecrow and a craft fair and it’s very family-centered,” she said.
Wetzel’s daughter Maeve, 9, spoke readily about her favorites.
“I like the corn maze and painting the pumpkins and seeing all the funny kids’ scarecrows,” she said.
David Sharos is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News.