scarecrows made by local residents that were on
display at Homewood Fall Fest in 2014. Scarecrows
will return Saturday as a feature of this year’s
fall fest. (Photo by Eric Crump/HF Chronicle)
The scarecrows are coming.
The invasion of scarecrows at the 2014 Homewood Fall Fest — prompted by the first scarecrow contest — was so popular that the village Beautification Committee and festival organizers are hosting the contest again.
Arla Day, a member of the Beautification Committee, said the first contest was an effort to bring people together with a fun, creative activity.
in the scarecrow contest are
on display in downtown
Homewood. (Photo by
Eric Crump/HF Chronicle)
“We chose to try it because we thought it we be a good way to get the community involved,” she said. “(We thought) seeing their scarecrows displayed on the streets would be fun for everyone. What we didn’t expect was the turn out and the wonderful themes residents came up with! It was hard to pick the winners!”
Anyone who wants to enter the contest this year should visit the Homewood Public Works office at 17555 Ashland Ave. between 7:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. to pick up a frame. The entry fee is $6. As of Monday, there were about 15 frames still available.
Entries have to be dropped off at Martin Avenue and Kroner Lane by 10 a.m. Saturday. Judging will take place at 1 p.m. The top three scarecrows, as determined by a panel of judges, will receive prizes: $50 for first place, $30 for second place and $20 for third place.
Contest guidelines require scarecrows costumes to be sturdily built, securely fastened to the frame and made of waterproof material. That’s because after Fall Fest, the scarecrow horde will do duty as guardians of downtown Homewood, lining the streets attached to light poles along Ridge Road and Dixie Highway.
The village also provides recommendations for materials that work well in scarecrow design, incuding swimming pool noodles, mannequin heads, plastic pumpkin trick-or-treat buckets, Styrofoam packing material and spare clothing.