Annual Scarecrow Contest kicks off autumn Sept. 12
Published 3:33 pm Tuesday, September 6, 2022
- File Photo Last year's First Place Scarecrow Contest winner Simple Blessings. Store owner Rita Russell stands next to her winning entry called “Pumpkin Wishes and Candy Corn Kisses.”
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By Angela Cutrer
Elizabethton Star
As summer sneaks away, fall is fast approaching, and there’s no better way to usher in autumn than with the ever-popular Downtown Scarecrow Contest.
“It’s a wonderful way to kick off the fall season and involve the whole community,” said Main Street Director Courtney Bean. “This year we are excited to launch the contest a month earlier to engage with our Covered Bridge Day visitors.”
The contest launches Sept. 12, but public voting will take a few days to get online, Bean said. Each scarecrow is tagged with a QR code so the public can scan and cast a vote.
The 2022 Scarecrow Contest runs through Oct. 25. All businesses can take part, even if they are not located downtown. The business can simply pick a column downtown not already in use and set up a scarecrow.
The free contest will award a first-, second- and third-place ribbon by way of the public’s judging. The winner will be announced Oct. 26.
Rules are as follows:
• Displays must be in Downtown Elizabethton on an Elk Avenue brick column by Sept. 12.
• Downtown business owners may reserve one column in front of their business by tying a ribbon around the column.
• Businesses must present an 8-1/2-inch by 11-inch sign with the title of the display and the entrant’s name within the display.
• The display must be placed between column and street and may not extend any closer than 1 foot from the street.
• Do not damage, deface or mark any column with display.• Main Street reserves the right to disqualify entries thought to be distasteful or not family friendly.
• Scarecrows must be durable and able to stand up to the sun, wind and rain. All decorations must be firmly attached to the scarecrow display.
• Voting will be managed by Main Street and will take place online.
• Displays must come down no later than Nov. 1.
Last year the winners were Simple Blessings General Store, The Coffee Company and Eagle Center Co-op.
“The Downtown Scarecrow Contest is such a fun tradition,” Bean said. “We love seeing the unique and festive creations our merchants and community partners bring to downtown. We invite everyone to come downtown and cast your vote for your favorite scarecrow!”
For questions, reach out to coordinators Lisa Bunn at Eagle Center Co-op or Matt Adams at Elizabethton Federal Savings Bank.
