A month of Scarecrows: Annual Solvang fest has businesses, organizations competing
Solvang will welcome the new season in true fall style as the village kicks off the 15th Annual Scarecrow Fest and Contest on Tuesday, Oct. 1. During the month-long Scarecrow Fest, which concludes on Halloween (Thursday, Oct. 31), Solvang businesses and organizations will participate in the contest by featuring a scarecrow of their own creation posted at their location. The 2024 festival includes the use of QR codes and a digital voting system, as well as using traditional paper maps and ballots.
Locals, tourists, and area merchants may vote on the contest’s website (SYVscarecrows.com) for Solvang scarecrow winners in six different categories: Best Scarecrow Photo Op, Best Use of Recycled Materials, Best Use of Business Theme, Most Danish, Spookiest, and Most Humorous. Scarecrow maps will also be available on the website and inside local businesses, along with the corresponding QR codes.
Once this year’s Best Solvang Scarecrow has been chosen, the ultimate winner will be announced and celebrated on Thursday, Nov. 14 at Montecito Bank & Trust, located at 591 Alamo Pintado Road in Solvang. The overall winner will receive the contest’s exclusive, handcrafted trophy, the “Harvest Cup” — made by famed blacksmith Hans Duus — which they may keep on display in their place of business until the conclusion of the following year’s contest. Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society was awarded the 2023 Harvest Cup. The mission of the Santa Ynez Valley Humane Society is to serve our community by providing and promoting humane, compassionate, and conscientious care of companion animals.
“This is the 15th year that the [Scarecrow] contest is being celebrated in Solvang, and other Santa Ynez Valley towns have embraced the ‘Fest.'” said Tracy Beard, executive director of the Solvang Chamber of Commerce. “The more that each town gets into this, the better the experience for both locals and visitors, whose community involvement, and visits, respectively, benefit the local economy of the entire Valley.”
The six different Solvang Scarecrow Fest voting categories mentioned above were selected through a conscious effort to nurture friendly competition and community among Solvang locals, to highlight the unique traits that Solvang possesses, and to encourage mindful, eco-conscious creativity. Past years’ Scarecrow Fests have received far-reaching publicity, with visitors coming from as far away as Alaska.
Questions about the 2024 Solvang Scarecrow Fest plans may be directed to the Solvang Chamber at mitzi@solvangchamber.com. Updated information about this year’s Solvang Scarecrow Fest will continue to be posted at SYVscarecrows.com.
Feature Image: CASA of Santa Barbara County got creative with its display outside its Solvang office last year during the Scarecrow Fest and Contest.
