BERNARDSTON — This year’s Scarecrow in the Park festivities will be bigger than ever before, organizer Karen Stinchfield says.
“There will be more artists and craftspeople than we ever had before,” Stinchfield said. “All of the booths are filled.”
Starting about 15 years ago as a single-day fall festival, Scarecrow in the Park has continued to grow at Cushman Park. The event will return on Saturday and Sunday.
New this year, the festival will provide off-site parking at the parking lot on Kringle Drive by Interstate 91. Thanks to a donation of the use of two 15-passenger vans from B&B Auto Rental Inc., attendees can be shuttled from the off-site parking lot to Cushman Park from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Sunday. However, the shuttle will not run from noon to 1 p.m. Saturday, during the tractor parade.
“Every year we look at what we did and improve where needed,” Stinchfield said. “We add something new every year.”
For the first time, the tractor parade will feature Shriners members riding their famous tiny parade cars. The weekend will see live music from various artists, with festivities kicking off under the big music tent Friday.
On Sunday, a vintage car show will be held at the park. There will be food for sale from the Bernardston Kiwanis Club and other vendors, games, and, of course, a park full of handcrafted scarecrows. Up to 60 artists and craftspeople will be in attendance, Stinchfield said. The event is free to attend and it is free to park.
All money raised during the event — through scarecrow contest entry fees, vendor fees and food sales, for example — benefits the Bernardston Kiwanis Club’s scholarship fund. A fee of $10 enters scarecrow creators in all six categories of the contest, with all six categories offering a $100 prize.
The categories for judging are: scariest, funniest, prettiest, most interesting use of materials, and the rotating category, which is reading this year. In addition, Bear Country will bestow a $100 prize to the maker of the best “Bearcrow.”
Lunch options both days include: burgers, hot dogs, fries, drinks and more from the Kiwanis Club; hummus and falafel platters, salads and fried vegetables from The Holyoke Hummus Company; soup, bread and roasted root vegetables from Hillside Catering; and fried dough with maple cream from All Things Maple.
■7 to 9 p.m. — The 60s Experience at the music tent in Cushman Park, with beer, wine and snacks
■8:30 a.m. — Coffee, hot chocolate and pastries at the Senior Center
■9 a.m. to 3 p.m. — Tag sale and raffle at the Senior Center
■10 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Live music at the music tent in Cushman Park
■10 a.m. to 4 p.m. — Vendor booths open in Cushman Park
■10 a.m. to 3 p.m. — Children’s games and activities in Cushman Park
■10 a.m. to 3 p.m. — Powers Institute Museum open
■Noon — Tractor parade with school bands
■12:45 p.m. — Halloween Dance Party in the music tent in the Four Leaf Clover parking lot
■3 p.m — K-9 officers demonstration
■10 to 10:45 a.m. — Drew Paton’s 1940s Hit Parade
■11 to 11:45 a.m. — Celtic Heels
■1 to 1:45 p.m. — Stillwater
■2 to 2:45 p.m. — The Short Fills
■3 to 4 p.m. — Bork-Tinen-Kahn Trio
■8:30 a.m. — Coffee, hot chocolate and pastries at the Senior Center
■9 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Raffle at the Senior Center (drawing at 1 p.m.)
■10 a.m. to 3 p.m. — Live music at the music tent in Cushman Park
■10 a.m. to 3 p.m. — Vendor booths open in Cushman Park
■10 a.m. to 3 p.m. — Children’s games and activities in Cushman Park
■10 a.m. to 1 p.m. — Powers Institute Museum open
■10 a.m. to 2 p.m. — Vintage car show (pre-1970s)
■10 to 10:45 a.m. — Carolyn Walker
■11 to 11:45 a.m. — Falltown String Band
■Noon to 12:45 p.m. — Appalachian Still
■1 to 1:45 p.m. — Corki & Ken
■2 to 3 p.m. — The 60s Experience