St. Charles scarecrow festival stuffed with fun
Move over, Tinman - this spotlight is on the Scarecrow.
Make that a lot of scarecrows. Those fellas made of straw and more will gather en masse in St. Charles for the 23rd annual Scarecrow Festival Friday, Oct. 10, to Sunday, Oct. 12.
"We have over 100 of them in over six different categories," said Amy Egolf Bull, executive director of the St. Charles Visitors Bureau, which produces this popular event each year.
Always a crowd pleaser, the festival drew 60,000 people last year and is expected to play host to at least as many this year when it introduces a sixth category permitting regional businesses to join St. Charles' companies entering the scarecrow contest.
It won't just be a lot of straw. Live music, dance and other performance art demonstrations, a petting zoo, carnival rides, an arts and crafts show and more will fill the weekend. Best of all, most of the offerings are free.
New attractions this year include special touches for children of all ages, as well as for the young-at-heart.
Bright Stars on Stage, a showcase of young performers, will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday at the Main Stage in Lincoln Park. Featured will be dance performances by members of Elite Academy of Dance, 3rd Street Dance and Theatre Academy and more. Martial arts will also be demonstrated by young students from Kim's Black Belt Academy.
"We've got a Storytelling Tales tent located at Cedar and Third Street, Bull said. "In addition, free crafts will be offered all weekend long in the same tent."
When you're ready to sit for a spell, check out a special free showing of "The Wizard of Oz" at 2 p.m. and again at 5 p.m. Sunday in the historic Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St.
Returning to the fest this year is a mobile virtual playground, "filled with Wii and other interactive games," Bull said. "It was so popular last year that we asked Meijer to bring it back."
You'll find it in the parking lot of Sichuan Restaurant at Main and Second streets.
If you're into cars, be sure to check out the new Zylstra Honda models behind Alley 64 on Main Street, as well as a NASCAR simulator on Fourth Street, near Lincoln Park.
Live musical entertainment will take place on the Main Stage in Lincoln Park, with popular acts throughout the weekend, including The Neverly Brothers at 6 p.m. Friday, the Paul Avers Band at 4:15 p.m. Saturday and the OD TAPO IMI group at 3 p.m. Sunday.
The St. Charles Scarecrow Festival began in 1985 and is an annual destination for locals, as well as folks who come from afar.
"A lot of families return year after year, I think, because it's become a tradition. And we now have children who are bringing their children," Bull said, adding that about 35 percent of the crowd are first timers, according to surveys done by the Visitors Bureau.
In addition, she said the festival was named one of the top 100 motor coach events in the nation by the American Bus Association for the third time last year.
Perhaps it's the little touches, like the luxury mobile restroom suites.
"They're really lovely; almost like mobile homes without a living room," Bull said.
Yes, she's talking about portable toilets, but not the kind you might be reluctant to enter. These accommodations are sponsored by Mendel Plumbing and Heating. So don't worry when nature calls.
Parking, however, can be a challenge due to the huge crowds. To help, the St. Charles Convention and Visitors Bureau is again providing free shuttles from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. all three days from parking areas off West Main Street at 7th Street and 15th Street Visitors can also park for free in the new parking deck on Walnut Street, between First and Second (Route 31) streets, and catch the shuttle from there.
For details, schedules and maps, visit www.scarecrowfest.com or call (630) 377-6161.
<div style="float:right;margin:0 0 6px 0;"> <div class="moreHolder"> <div style="margin:6px;text-wrap:auto;"> <div class="moreSubHead"> If you go </div> <div class="moreText"> <p class="News"><B>What:</B> St. Charles Scarecrow Festival</p> <p class="News"><B>When:</B> 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 10-11, and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 12</p> <p class="News"><B>Where:</B> Pottawottamie Park and River Walk</p> <p class="News"><B>Info:</B> <a href="http://scarecrowfest.com" target="new">scarecrowfest.com</a></p> </div> <B></B> </div> </div> </div>