If you’ve never been to the Scarecrow Festival in Prince Edward County, let me paint you a picture: imagine a field full of creatively chaotic scarecrows, some charming, some creepy, and at least one that looks suspiciously like your Uncle Ted after Thanksgiving dinner.
Now add kids with sticky fingers from caramel apples, stilt walkers defying gravity, and the occasional rogue crow who clearly didn’t get the memo.
As a local who’s been attending this quirky celebration for years, I can tell you it’s not just about stuffing old clothes with hay (though that’s definitely part of the charm).
The festival has moved around a bit, like a scarecrow chasing the wind, but it’s now happily rooted at Macaulay Heritage Park in Picton, where history meets hilarity.
It has become one of PEC’s most cherished seasonal events, drawing families and creatives from across the region.
Whether you’re building your own scarecrow masterpiece or just there for the photo ops and fortune tellers, the Scarecrow Festival is PEC’s way of saying, “Fall is here, and we’re going to celebrate it with straw, style, and a little bit of circus flair.”
What is The Scarecrow Festival in Prince Edward County (PEC)?
The festival is a fundraiser supporting local arts initiatives, including The Witches, a Halloween-themed production.
It’s about community, creativity, and the joy of watching your neighbors try to tie a flannel shirt around a broomstick with the precision of a NASA engineer.
When and Where?
- Dates: Typically held over Thanksgiving weekend in October.
- Location: Now hosted at Macaulay Heritage Park Museum in Picton, previously held at Small Pond Arts.
- Organizers: The event was originally run by The Department of Illumination, but in 2024, it was passed on to NorthFIRE Circus and The County Museums.
What Activities Are There?
- Scarecrow Building: The main attraction! Visitors can build their own scarecrow using provided kits ($40 + tax). You can take it home or leave it as part of the museum’s Halloween decorations.
- Family-Friendly Fun:
- Crafts and creative activities
- Mini aerial arts lessons
- Fortune teller visits
- Photo ops with stilt walkers
Cost of Admission & Tickets
- Admission: Free to enter the grounds.
- Scarecrow Kits: Must be purchased in advance to guarantee availability.
Be sure to see Countylicious, another popular Fall activity.
