By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current
Area residents are invited to join in the fun October celebration and create their own unique scarecrow for the fifth year of Scarecrow Row planned for Oct. 26 in Geneseo City Park. The Halloween event is sponsored by the Geneseo Chamber of Commerce and Geneseo businesses.
Free scarecrow frames and instructions are available at the Smith Studio and Gallery, 124 South State St., or at the office of the Geneseo Chamber, located in City Hall.
Those people building scarecrows are asked to take them to City park y 10 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 26.
David Smith of the Smith Gallery and a member of the Chamber’s scarecrow committee, said, “Just place your special character in one of the flagpole holes located throughout City Park and we instantly have a unique and spontaneous event.”
David Smith of Smith Studio and Gallery in downtown Geneseo stands with “Art the Skeleton,” and “Priscilla,” two Halloween creations he created that are currently on display at Smith Studio in downtown Geneseo. This year’s Scarecrow Row is Saturday, Oct. 26, in Geneseo City Park. Photo by Claudia Loucks
Smith added that the Chamber “is hoping to see 100 spooky, funny and special scarecrows this year in City Park. This is a communal event that succeeds when the community joins in.”
Prize ribbons are awarded to all participants and there are three monetary awards for the best scarecrow designs, including a first place prize of $150; second place of $100 and a third place of $50. The prizes will be Geneseo gift certificates from the Chamber of Commerce.
Children are invited to trick-or-treat among the scarecrows in City Park from 10 a.m. to noon.
“Many participants like to stand by their scarecrow during the morning hours in order to hand out candy, although this is not required,” Smith said. ‘Families, club and business representatives should all consider being in the City Park if they would like to be a part of the celebration.”
The scarecrows will remain on exhibit through the afternoon so those people who want to see the Halloween event in a “quieter way” can visit the City Park. At 4 p.m., the scarecrows will be taken home by their owners and can be installed in their yards for a special Halloween decoration, as Thursday, Oct. 31, is Halloween.