There is no limit to the imagination for making scarecrows

Scarecrows may be as funny, serious or scary as the creator wants them to be

by Lorraine Payette, written September 11, 2013

“I haven’t got a brain… only straw,” said the Scarecrow.
“How can you talk if you haven’t got a brain?” Dorothy asked.
“I don’t know… But some people without brains do an awful lot of talking… don’t they?”
– The Wizard of Oz

(GANANOQUE, ON) – Autumn is upon us, with shortening days and cooler temperatures. Cornstalks are beginning to brown in the fields and the leaves are exhibiting their first traces of the fire to come as their edges flash scarlet and orange and gold. It’s time for pumpkins and apple cider, for thick, comfy sweaters, for gingerbread and mincemeat pies.

And it’s definitely time for scarecrows.

The Arthur Child Museum in Gananoque will be hosting its very first Great Scarecrow Festival starting on October 1.

“We invite one and all to join in and be part of the fun as we fill our exhibit halls with our region’s finest scarecrows with style,” said Judy Morrison of the museum. “Bring us your most fabulous, funny, eerie, skinny, fat, tall, short and anything in-between, scarecrows with attitude and flair! We welcome all shapes, colours and sizes!”

The festival is open to everyone in the Gananoque community, whether they be individuals, businesses, schools or groups. The entries will be placed on display at the museum on October 1, and the exhibit will culminate with the announcement of the winners at 1:00 p.m. on October 13.

“Come join us for warm cider and ginger cookies,” said Morrison. “We will announce our 2013 Festival Winners, all determined by public ballot voting.”

Prizes will be awarded for the top tree entries, and everyone is sure to have a fun time. The official guidelines are:

1) All entries will be showcased in the museum for public viewing between Oct 1st and Oct 13th (ballot tallies will be completed on Oct.13th at 1:00 pm when winners will be announced)

2) All submissions should be clearly labelled for public viewing with name and contact information for each entry

3) If you wish to have your entry returned to you at the end of exhibit period, please advise when your entry is dropped off

4) Feel free to tag a ‘short story’ along with your entry! (eg., how your entry came about, how it was constructed and any explanation regarding ‘theme’ etc., how many people worked on it and what was involved).

5) Have fun and bring us your best!

For more information, please contact the museum at 613-382-2535 or ivillage@cogeco.net .