Don’t be alarmed if you see a large group of strange people stuffed with straw gathering in downtown Oxford Saturday, Oct. 23.
No, it’s not a Ray Bolger look-a-like contest. It’s just Oxford’s second annual Scarecrow Festival.
From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Centennial Park will play host to loads of Halloween and autumn fun.
The main attraction of course will be the scarecrows. According to Scarecrow Fest volunteer Donna Graessle, 49 scarecrows have registered in this year’s contest as of Oct. 19, but entries are still coming in.
This week a number of scarecrows will be selected as finalists and their creators will be asked to bring the strawmen (and women) to the park Saturday, so festival-goers can review them up close and vote for their favorites from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The top five residential scarecrows will be announced at 3 p.m. along with the top downtown merchant scarecrow, which will receive the coveted ‘Crow Award.?
In addition to scarecrows, a pet parade featuring costumed dogs and cats will march through the downtown at 1 p.m. The parade will be followed by a pet costume contest in which awards will be handed out for ‘best costume? and ‘best trick.?
Pumpkin decorating and Halloween figurine painting courtesy of the Orion Art Center will go on throughout the festival to keep those kiddies entertained.
Don’t worry if you get hungry during all the fun, local vendors will be at the park selling piping hot bowls of chili, hot dogs and kettle corn.