Birds beware: 2 park districts holding scarecrow contests for crafty fall fun
With COVID-19 still spreading rapidly this fall, many families have more than scary movies and costume choices to worry about this Halloween season. Groups moving door to door, candy collection and interactions with strangers have all taken on new context amid the pandemic.
But at least two area park districts are hoping families can still find some fun fit for the fall season in a subject that should only be truly frightening for the avian contingent: scarecrows.
The Lockport Township Park District for the first time is introducing Scarecrow Lane — a program recreation supervisor Sarah Hamilton said was designed to meetIllinois’phase four guidelines for COVID-19 while also providing an outlet for fall fun.
“We were looking for somethingwe coulddo,” Hamilton said of the idea’s inception. “We’re excited for it. We’re hoping to get a good turnout.”
The rules are simple. People
must register byMonday to participate. There is no cap on how many people can take part. People also do not need to live within the boundaries of the Park District to get involved. Businesses and organizations are welcome to enter aswell.
For a $20 entry fee, participants are to receive a frameand straw. Therest is up to their creativity. Completed scarecrows will be placed on the path behind Challenge Fitness and the Dellwood Park Community Center. People can view them and vote from noon Oct. 18 through noon Oct. 25 by scanningQRcodes at each scarecrow.
The Park District plans to award winners in four categories: silliest, artistic, spookiest and cartoon/ character. Each category winner is to receive a $200 cash prize, and the Board of Commissioners is to choose a Board Award Grand Prizeworth $250.
The winners are to be announced Oct. 26.
Hamilton said there are scarecrows at Dellwood Park now to draw more attention to the activity. People can findmore information at lockportpark.org or 815-838-1183.
The Frankfort Park District has been doing a similar ScarecrowBuilding Contest “forever” (circa 2012), according to recreation supervisor Cali DeBella. It usually has 10-15 families participate, but DeBella said she was unsure whether it would see the same turnout this year because Scout troops have been known to participate in the past but may not be active because of the pandemic.
“It will be more family builders,” DeBella said of the expected shift for 2020.
DeBella said she is also concerned because voting was tied to the district’s Halloween events in the past. But with any of those that are still happening being moved outdoors, the Park District staff is working extra hard to drum up
attention for the scarecrows.
To that end, a scarecrow has been seen loitering outside of the Founders Community Center at 140 Oak St. in Frankfort, DeBella said. Similar to Lockport Township’s contest, Frankfort welcomed all who wish to enter, residents or not.
The deadline to enter was Wednesday. But for those who missed out or simply want to see the creativity, voting will take place Friday through Oct. 31 at the Founders Community Center office and on the Park District’s Facebook page. Prizes typically include vouchers for pizza
and movies, DeBella said.
The major differences between the contests? Frankfort Park District is not limiting creativity to specific categories. While DeBella said people typically tackle fall themes, utilize old costumes and more in line with Halloween, the criteria is openended. The aim is simply to construct an eye-catching scarecrow.
“They can come upwith anything they want,” DeBella said. “We’ve had a whole variety of scarecrows.”