Every year around this time, as if arranged by some secret society, a strange convention occurs in Stevensville as dozens of scarecrows gather on the edge of town lining the walkway to the river in an eerie but beautiful display.
Actually the secret society behind the bizarre gathering is not so secret. It’s the Stevensville Art and Sculpture Society (SASS) that first put out the call and the response has been simply amazing as the Stevensville Scarecrow Festival has grown into the much anticipated and much enjoyed event that it is today.
According to SASS president Gary Knapp, the event was started back in 2006 as a way to develop an interest in, and appreciation for, sculpture in the community.
Participants are free to use their imaginations without bound and the results have been impressive over the years. Knapp said he was impressed by the breadth of the community involvement.
“We get scarecrow entries from 4H groups, school classes, businesses, local non-profit organizations, and of course, individual families,” he said.
A few prizes are awarded, such as the People’s Choice Awards, in which the winners are selected by popular vote. There is also an Artistic Merit Award with the winners chosen by a panel of judges. This year there will be a third category of awards for the best “living statue.” In that case a person does not make a sculpture, but becomes one. The “living statues” will be on Main Street during the First Friday event on October 5.
“I’ve always wanted to do a ‘living statues’ event,” said Knapp, “so we’ve added that.” The living sculpture competition will take place along Main Street on Friday night. The entire scarecrow exhibition will also be lit up on Friday evening with a solar powered lighting system provided by Sunelco. Knapp said that many people, businesses and organizations, such as the Stevensville Main Street Association, help make the event what it is. It also provides an opportunity for organizations to gather donations for their individual causes.
The scarecrows will be on display starting on First Friday, October 5 at 5 p.m. through Saturday, October 13. Living Statues will be on Main Street on First Friday, October 5 from 5 to 9 p.m., and they will be judged during that time. Peoples’ Choice voting for the scarecrows has been extended to include Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. as well as the traditional First Friday from 5 to 9 p.m.
An Awards Ceremony with local television news celebrities is planned for Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. at the Forest Service lawn near the start of the town-to-river path. Refreshments will be available for purchase on Friday night and again Saturday with proceeds helping to cover costs of the scarecrow contest.
In conjunction with the Scarecrow Festival, the Stevensville Main Street Association will sponsor the annual Pumpkin Carving Contest on First Friday, October 5 in Creamery Garden Park next to the New Coffee Mill. There will be three categories: 16 years to adult, 9 to 15 years, and 8 years and under. The top pumpkin in each category wins a $10 prizes; overall winner get $20.
Carve your pumpkins and have them at the Creamery Park by 6:30 p.m. on First Friday. Winners will be posted at 7:30 p.m.
Entry forms are available at the Stevensville Main Street Office, 777-3773, or just make sure your name, age group, pumpkin name and phone number is attached to the pumpkin and bring to the park on Friday before 6:30 p.m.
If you want to get a look at some scarecrows from the past, you can check out the Stevensville Scarecrow Festival on Facebook.
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Scarecrows of all makes and models will line the path from Stevensville to the river during the 7th anual Scarecrow festival which kicks off this Friday in Stevensville. Photo courtesy of SASS.Every year around this time, as if arranged by some secret society, a strange convention occurs in Stevensville as dozens of scarecrows gather on the edge of town lining the walkway to the river in an eerie but beautiful display.
Actually the secret society behind the bizarre gathering is not so secret. It’s the Stevensville Art and Sculpture Society (SASS) that first put out the call and the response has been simply amazing as the Stevensville Scarecrow Festival has grown into the much anticipated and much enjoyed event that it is today.
According to SASS president Gary Knapp, the event was started back in 2006 as a way to develop an interest in, and appreciation for, sculpture in the community.
Participants are free to use their imaginations without bound and the results have been impressive over the years. Knapp said he was impressed by the breadth of the community involvement.
“We get scarecrow entries from 4H groups, school classes, businesses, local non-profit organizations, and of course, individual families,” he said.
A few prizes are awarded, such as the People’s Choice Awards, in which the winners are selected by popular vote. There is also an Artistic Merit Award with the winners chosen by a panel of judges. This year there will be a third category of awards for the best “living statue.” In that case a person does not make a sculpture, but becomes one. The “living statues” will be on Main Street during the First Friday event on October 5.
“I’ve always wanted to do a ‘living statues’ event,” said Knapp, “so we’ve added that.” The living sculpture competition will take place along Main Street on Friday night. The entire scarecrow exhibition will also be lit up on Friday evening with a solar powered lighting system provided by Sunelco. Knapp said that many people, businesses and organizations, such as the Stevensville Main Street Association, help make the event what it is. It also provides an opportunity for organizations to gather donations for their individual causes.
The scarecrows will be on display starting on First Friday, October 5 at 5 p.m. through Saturday, October 13. Living Statues will be on Main Street on First Friday, October 5 from 5 to 9 p.m., and they will be judged during that time. Peoples’ Choice voting for the scarecrows has been extended to include Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. as well as the traditional First Friday from 5 to 9 p.m.
An Awards Ceremony with local television news celebrities is planned for Saturday afternoon at 3 p.m. at the Forest Service lawn near the start of the town-to-river path. Refreshments will be available for purchase on Friday night and again Saturday with proceeds helping to cover costs of the scarecrow contest.
In conjunction with the Scarecrow Festival, the Stevensville Main Street Association will sponsor the annual Pumpkin Carving Contest on First Friday, October 5 in Creamery Garden Park next to the New Coffee Mill. There will be three categories: 16 years to adult, 9 to 15 years, and 8 years and under. The top pumpkin in each category wins a $10 prizes; overall winner get $20.
Carve your pumpkins and have them at the Creamery Park by 6:30 p.m. on First Friday. Winners will be posted at 7:30 p.m.
Entry forms are available at the Stevensville Main Street Office, 777-3773, or just make sure your name, age group, pumpkin name and phone number is attached to the pumpkin and bring to the park on Friday before 6:30 p.m.
If you want to get a look at some scarecrows from the past, you can check out the Stevensville Scarecrow Festival on Facebook.
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