You don’t need a brain from the Wizard to know that Oxford Scarecrow Festival 2003 is going to be more fun than you can shake a winged-monkey at.
A whole slew of fun-filled, family-oriented events has been planned for the first annual festival on Saturday, Oct. 23 in downtown Oxford.
“I feel like we’ve superceded every expectation we had,” said Scarecrow Festival Chairperson Suzanne Ardelan, commenting on the wildly successful planning efforts.
Centennial Park will be the headquarters for Scarecrow Festival 2003, sponsored by the Oxford Community Development Authority and The Oxford Leader.
The festivities begin at 4 p.m. with a Carved pumpkin Contest and Pet Costume Contest.
The Carved Pumpkin Contest will run until 6 p.m. and is open to anyone. Contestants are reminded to bring their pumpkins to the park already carved and ready to be judged at 6 p.m.
Prizes for first, second and third places will be awarded at 6:30 p.m. in both the adult and children categories.
All pumpkin entries will be lit during special ceremony from 6:30 to 7 p.m.
But carving an orange gourd isn’t the only way to win a prize.
Got a pet? Dress him or her up in a costume and enter your furry friend in the Pet Costume Contest from 4 to 6 p.m.
All entrants will be judged at 6 p.m. and prizes will be awarded 6:30 p.m. for Best Costume, Best Look-a-Like (that means both owner and pet have to dress up) and Best trick.
Barb Reis, of Captured Moments Photography, will be on hand to photograph costumed pets and owners for $5.
Beginning at 5:30 p.m., adults and kids will have the opportunity to hunt for clues and tasty treats.
A special Scavenger Hunt will lead participating adults through many downtown businesses, collecting clues from participating merchants that spell out the answer to a mystery question.
Participants are reminded to be sure to obtain their Scavenger Hunt maps and instructions from the booth in the park.
Kids age 10 and under will be able to follow the Scavenger Hunting adults by trick-or-treating along the same route.
Prizes for the Scavenger Hunt will be given out at 6:30 p.m.
Judging for the Scarecrow Decorating Contest will be completed by Thursday, Oct. 23 with the winners being announced during the festival at 6:30 p.m.
In the commercial category, prizes will be awarded for Best Scarecrow Grouping, Best Individual Scarecrows and the coveted “People’s Choice Award.”
With regard to the last award, the festival committee stated, “In response to the overwhelming participation of our local merchants, ballots for residents to pick their favorite scarecrow will be located at all participating stores. Be sure to bring your ballot to the festival Oct. 25th and VOTE for your favorite scarecrow.”
In the residential category, first, second and third place winners will be selected.
Donna Graessle, village resident and festival committee volunteer, estimated “close to 50” businesses and “at least 20” residences have erected scarecrows or scarecrow display scenes.
“It’s gone way beyond my expectations,” she said. “I’m very pleased. They’re just wonderful.”
Ardelan agreed.
“Participation has been fantastic,” the chairperson said. “The merchants have really responded to this. It’s built a real sense of community.”
Photos of the scarecrows are being displayed at the web site ocda@villageofoxford.org.
From 7 to 9 p.m. festival-goers will be invited to kick up their straw-filled heels to the swinging sounds of the The Dan Hall Band, which Ardelan said ensures can “play anything we want.”
Expending energy on all this festival fun is sure to leave more than a few visitors very hungry.
Bur fear not, for Parkside Catering and Kona Cafe will be serving up hot dogs, hamburgers, bratwursts, pie, cider and all the standard fall favorites from 4 to 9 p.m.
Only someone with a head full of straw would miss this event. So follow the Yellow Brick Road (i.e. M-24) to downtown Oxford this Saturday and join in the fun.