By CHARLES W. JOHNSON / News Editor for the Southern Standard
Recreation programmer Justin Scott takes a seat with a creature he calls the Blue Witch to promote this year’s Scare Me Scarecrow contest sponsored by McMinnville’s Parks and Recreation Department. (Charles W. Johnson photo)
It won’t be long until fall pumpkins are carved into jack-o’-lanterns and little spooks are out trick-or-treating. Halloween is on the way and McMinnville Parks and Recreation is getting ready by holding its annual Scare Me Scarecrow contest, where groups of up to five can get creative and win some great prizes, like passes to Gilley Pool and the Civic Center.
Recreation programmer Justin Scott say he hopes everyone will turn in their best scarecrow, which will be lined up around the walking trail at the Civic Center.
“I would like to see a lot of participation this year,” Scott said. “It’s a very inexpensive contest to enter. You can use items you have around the house. People can really enjoy it and have fun with it and be creative with it. That’s what we’re looking for, and to dress this walkway up for Halloween. A lot of people use this and can come out and just see the work that’s been done.”
As usual, local schools are being contacted and all fourth- through sixth-grade students are invited to participate. There will also be an “open to the public” category for families.
The contest rules are as follows:
All students participating must be currently enrolled in the fourth through sixth grades in Warren County.
Groups entering a scarecrow can have up to five students per team.
All groups having scarecrows to be judged must have a representative bring it to McMinnville Civic Center no later than Friday, Oct. 14 at 5 p.m.
All groups must attach an index card to their entry with school name, classroom or art teacher’s name, and all group member’s names. The index cards will only be used to notify winners and as a contact if they want to have their picture in the paper for winning.
Judging will be based on originality and creativity.
Winners will be notified by Friday, Oct. 28 through the school and teacher.
There will be a category for each grade, plus an open category. There will winners in each grade, and for the open division.
All group members who made the first-place scarecrow will receive free passes to Gilley Pool. All group members who made the second-place scarecrow will receive free one-week passes to McMinnville Civic Center. These can be used on any regular operating day, but not for special events.
All scarecrows will be put on display on the Civic Center walking trail to be displayed through Halloween.
For more information contact the Civic Center at 473-1212.
