Autumn will be in the spotlight beginning Friday as the 39th annual Scarecrow Weekend is held in St. Charles.
The event will run from noon to 6 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday in downtown St. Charles. It will feature a variety of fall-themed entertainment and activities, organizers said in a press release about the event.
The scarecrow contest is the centerpiece of the event and will take place throughout the weekend, according to the release. The contest allows those attending the chance to vote on their favorite scarecrows which can be found on Riverside Avenue, in Lincoln Park and on First Street.
There will be more than 120 scarecrows across four different categories: Individual/Family, Business, Club/Not-for-Profit/School and Mega/Mechanical. Those attending may vote for their favorite scarecrow in each of the categories.
The Family Zone will be in Lincoln Park and will have many family-friendly activities during the weekend, along with live music, dance teams, family fun booths and roaming entertainment, organizers said.
Some of the entertainment that will be featured at the park includes roaming entertainment from the Windy City Ghostbusters and the Magic of Scott Piner, and stage performances that include Leslie Hunt and the Hunt House Showcase and Hillbilly Rockstarz.
The Activity Zone will be on Riverside Avenue between Main Street and Illinois Avenue. There, visitors will find more family-friendly fall activities including a rock climbing wall, an inflatable corn maze, an interactive family DJ and more, officials said.
On First Street Plaza, attendees can enjoy free live music throughout the weekend from groups including Phase V, The Frizz and 13 Days.
The St. Charles Breakfast Rotary and the St. Charles Kiwanis Club will have food for purchase during the weekend in the front Municipal Building parking lot. In the Lincoln Park Family Zone, Just Kabobs, Taco Urbano and Windy Acres Farm will be selling food during the duration of the weekend as well.
In honor of the weekend, many other local businesses will be offering special sales and promotions, according to organizers.
“Scarecrow Weekend is a wonderful chance for the community to come together to celebrate the fall season,” St. Charles Business Alliance Executive Director Jenna Sawicki said in the release.
For more information on Scarecrow Weekend, go to www.scarecrowfest.com.
