Scarecrow Festival in St. Charles Brings Community Together

Kathleen Lao, a new resident of St. Charles, has quickly embraced a beloved local tradition. Arriving only two months ago, she discovered the annual Scarecrow Weekend festival and plans to make it a regular visit. ‘We recently moved here and found out about this scarecrow festival and it’s just wonderful,’ she expressed, while admiring the hay-stuffed creations along Riverside Avenue on Friday afternoon.

The festivities, presented by the St. Charles Business Alliance and its sponsors, are part of the 41st annual Scarecrow Weekend. The three-day event began on Friday and will continue through Sunday afternoon. The streets are filled with over 120 imaginative scarecrows, along with live music, various activities for children, entertainment, and food options.

According to a press release from the St. Charles Business Alliance, visitors have the opportunity to vote in a scarecrow contest. The contest categories include entries by individuals, clubs, not-for-profits, and businesses. One notable transformation is in the Lincoln Park area, which has become the festival’s Family Zone, featuring music, dance teams, activity booths, and roaming entertainers.

Jenna Sawicki, Executive Director of the St. Charles Business Alliance, highlighted the event’s growth. ‘The scarecrow total is slightly higher than last year, marking our highest number since COVID. People love celebrating fall weather and coming together as a community. It also showcases our local businesses,’ she noted. Sawicki emphasized the event as a great opportunity for community members to connect with friends, neighbors, and family members at no cost. Over the course of the festival, officials expect around 80,000 attendees.

Lao’s friend, Monique Hillestad of Hanover Park, visited the festival for the first time with her 10-week-old son, Emerson. ‘I know he’s too young to participate, but it’s fun pushing him around to enjoy the decorations and pumpkins,’ Hillestad said.

Cristin Wetzel has been a local for nearly a decade and frequently attends the festival with her children. ‘This is a fun, free event for kids of all ages. It spans both sides of the river and offers many stops along the way,’ she shared as her children explored the scarecrows. Wetzel highlighted activities such as the corn maze, pumpkin crafting, and the amusing scarecrows designed with kids in mind. ‘The event has grown a bit each year, with build-your-own scarecrow activities and a family-focused craft fair,’ she added.

Cristin’s daughter, Maeve, age 9, expressed her enthusiasm. ‘I like the corn maze, painting the pumpkins, and the funny kids’ scarecrows,’ she said.