Staff Report

The Santa Ynez Valley kicks off its 12th Annual Scarecrow Fest and contest on Friday, October 1. During the month-long Scarecrow Fest, which concludes on Halloween which is Sunday, Oct. 31, Solvang businesses and organizations will participate in the contest by featuring a scarecrow of their own creation posted at their location. The 2021 festival will follow all current COVID protocols, including the use of QR codes and a digital voting system, as opposed to what were traditionally paper maps and ballots.

Locals, tourists, and area merchants may vote on the contest’s website (www.SYVscarecrows.com), for Solvang scarecrow winners in six different categories: “Best Scarecrow Photo Opp”, “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, along with the corresponding QR codes.

Once this year’s “Best Solvang Scarecrow” has been chosen, the ultimate winner will be announced and celebrated virtually. 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.

Succulent Café Wine Charcuterie, in Solvang was awarded the 2020 Harvest Cup.

“This is the 12th year that the [Scarecrow] contest is being celebrated in Solvang, and the other Santa Ynez Valley towns have definitely embraced the ‘Fest’. The more that each town gets into this, the better the experience for both our locals and visitors, whose community involvement and visits, respectively, benefit the local economy of the entire Valley,” said Tracy Beard, Executive Director of the Solvang Chamber of Commerce. Beard is heading up the 2021 Solvang Scarecrow Fest organization while continuing to maintain a safe and healthy environment for all to enjoy during this time.

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.

Businesses and organizations throughout Solvang are invited to participate in the Scarecrow Fest and Contest; participation in the contest is $25. Entry forms for the 2021 Solvang Scarecrow Fest need to be returned to the Solvang Chamber by Friday, Sept. 17, in order for participating scarecrows to be included on the map.

Questions about the 2021 Solvang Scarecrow Fest plans may be directed to the Solvang Chamber at Taryn@solvangchamber.com. The Chamber can also provide prospective participants with further contest details, participant entry forms, and “Scarecrow Tips & Tricks”. Updated information about this year’s Solvang Scarecrow Fest will continue to be posted at www.SYVscarecrows.com.

The post 12th annual Scarecrow Fest to go through month of October appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

The festival contest winners were announced and the “2020 Harvest Cup: Best in the Valley” title and trophy was handed over to this year’s contest winner, Solvang restaurant, Succulent Café, which will hold the trophy through the end of the 2021 Santa Ynez Valley Scarecrow Fest.

The 2020 Scarecrow Fest – the eighth annual Valley-wide competition – included the “SYV” communities of Buellton, Los Olivos, and the town that started the original Scarecrow Fest, Solvang. During the festival, visitors and SYV locals were encouraged to play, stay and enjoy the scarecrow sights and seasonal fall ambience which the Valley hosts at harvest-time.

The SYV Scarecrows, crafted by local businesses, organizations and individuals, were showcased across the Santa Ynez Valley in the three main communities mentioned above; the overall winning scarecrows from each of the three mentioned towns were eligible for the “2020 Harvest Cup: Best in the Valley” title and trophy, the winner of which was selected by an anonymous panel of Valley-wide judges.

Solvang’s 2020 “Popular Vote” winners were: Best Photo Opportunity, CASA of Santa Barbara County (Court Appointed Special Advocates); Best Use of Recycled Materials, Coast Plumbing Solutions; Best Use of Business Theme, Cailloux Cheese Shop; Most Danish, Viking Laser Design; Spookiest, The Giving Ink; Most Humorous, Solvang Senior Center. In addition to the six category winners determined by public voting, anonymous judges awarded a “Best Scarecrow” title to an overall City of Solvang winner, Succulent Café, which went on to compete for and win the “2020 Harvest Cup”.

In the “country wine” village of Los Olivos, visitors and residents voted on their favorite scarecrows with winners in the following categories: Best Los Olivos Scarecrow, Ca’ Del Grevino; Most Humorous, Avec Moi Décor; Spookiest, Alexander & Wayne / Arthur Earl; Best Business Theme, Ca’ Del Grevino; Best Natural Materials, Grimm’s Bluff Wines. The overall Los Olivos scarecrow winner – Ca’ Del Grevino – represented the town in the quest for the “2020 Harvest Cup” trophy.

The Buellton Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau sponsored this year’s annual Buellton Scarecrow Fest. Buellton’s scarecrows were judged by locals, tourists and merchants, as well as a panel of judges, with winners in the following categories: Flying Flags RV Resort & Campground, Best Use of Natural Materials; Alma Rosa Winery, Most Humorous; OstrichLand USA, Best Use of Business Theme; and Sideways Lounge, Spookiest. Buellton’s “Best Scarecrow” winner, Hitching Post 2, represented the City in the Valley-wide contest.

More information about each year’s Santa Ynez Valley Scarecrow Fest will be available at www.syvscarecrows.com as well as on Facebook and Instagram at facebook.com/SYVScarecrowFest and @SYVscarecrows.

The post Succulent Cafe takes top Scarecrow honors for 2020 appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

During the month-long Scarecrow Fest, which runs from Oct. 1 and concludes on Halloween Oct. 31, Santa Ynez Valley businesses and organizations will participate in the contest by featuring a scarecrow of their own creation posted at their location, all while maintaining COVID-19 protocols.

Locals, tourists and area merchants will vote via the “Fest” website, www.syvscarecrows.com, and focus on maintaining COVID-19 guidelines during this year’s festival. Scarecrow winners will be awarded in six different categories: Best Scarecrow Photo Op, Best Use of Recycled Materials, Best Use of Business Theme, Spookiest, Most Humorous and others. Scarecrow Maps will be available on the website, to direct voters to each of the contest’s scarecrows.

Once a Best Scarecrow winner has been chosen from each township, it will be entered into the Santa Ynez Valley-wide competition with the scarecrow winners to determine the Valley’s Best Scarecrow. The ultimate winner will be announced and celebrated virtually. The overall winner will receive the contest’s exclusive, handcrafted trophy, the Harvest Cup, to keep on display in their town until the conclusion of the following year’s contest.

The Santa Ynez Valley Marriott, a Buellton hospitality business, was awarded the 2019 Harvest Cup.

“This is the eighth year that the [Scarecrow] contest is going Valley-wide, and the other Santa Ynez Valley towns have definitely embraced the ‘Fest.’” said Tracy Beard, executive director of the Solvang Chamber of Commerce, who is heading up the 2020 Solvang Scarecrow Fest coordination and organization, while maintaining a safe and healthy environment for all to enjoy during this time. “The more that each town gets into this, the better the experience for both our 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. 

Scarecrow Fest was originally started to drive business to each of the participating companies, storefronts, merchants and organizations, as well as to the town and the surrounding Santa Ynez Valley locales.

Businesses and organizations throughout Solvang are invited to participate in the Scarecrow Fest and Contest; participation in the contest is $25. Entry forms for the 2020 Solvang Scarecrow Fest need to be returned by Thursday, Sept. 17, for participating scarecrows to be included on the map.

Questions about the 2020 Solvang Scarecrow Fest plans may be directed to the Solvang Chamber at taryn@solvangchamber.com. The Chamber can also provide prospective participants with further contest details, participant entry forms, and a “Scarecrow Tips & Tricks” document. Updated information about this year’s Solvang Scarecrow Fest will continue to be posted at www.syvscarecrows.com.

The post Scarecrow Fest entries due by Sept. 17 appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

Santa Ynez Valley merchants will welcome the fall season by kicking off the annual Scarecrow Fest and contest on Oct. 1. Residents and tourists are invited to vote on their favorite creations throughout the month.

This year’s contest will include Ballard, Buellton and Los Olivos as well as Solvang, the town that started the Scarecrow Fest. Scarecrows can also be found around Santa Ynez and Los Alamos during October.

The month-long festival will run through Oct. 31, during which time visitors and residents are encouraged to play, stay and enjoy the scarecrow sights and many community events.

Those events include Solvang Stomp on Saturday, Oct. 13, and the Solvang 3rd Wednesday Wine & Beer Walk on Oct. 17, as well as the Solvang and Buellton recreation departments’ big haunted house at Halloween.

The winning scarecrows from each town, crafted by local businesses, will be announced on Oct. 16 and eligible for the “2019 Harvest Cup: Best in the Valley” title and trophy, which will be announced at a ceremony in November.

The Landsby was the 2018 overall winner.

Each of the participating towns holds its own Scarecrow Fest and associated contest to select a winner that will represent each town in the quest for the valley-wide Harvest Cup trophy.

The valley’s first Scarecrow Fest was held in Solvang in 2010, initiated by the Solvang 3rd Wednesday committee. 

For more information, go to www.syvscarecrows.comor follow the event on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Scarecrow voters and visitors are encouraged to use the hashtag #syvscarecrows in on-line discussions of the SYV Scarecrow Fest.

The post Scarecrow Fest kicks off fall-themed events in October appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

The 2018 edition of the month-long Santa Ynez Valley (SYV) Scarecrow Fest and Contest has officially come to a close, wrapping up with a November 15 “Harvest Cup” trophy award ceremony during November’s Valley-wide Chamber of Commerce Mixer at the Solvang Festival Theater. The festival contest winners were announced at the November 15 event, and the “2018 Harvest Cup: Best in the Valley” title and trophy was handed over to this year’s contest winner, Solvang hotel and restaurant / bar, The Landsby and Mad & Vin, which will hold the trophy through the end of the 2019 Santa Ynez Valley Scarecrow Fest.

2018 Harvest Cup Winner – The Landsby and Mad & Vin.

The 2018 Scarecrow Fest – the sixth annual Valley-wide competition, sponsored in part by Visit Santa Ynez Valley – included the “SYV” communities of Ballard, Buellton, Los Alamos, Los Olivos, Santa Ynez and the town that started the original Scarecrow Fest, Solvang. During the festival, visitors and SYV locals were encouraged to play, stay and enjoy the scarecrow sights and many events which occurred throughout the month of Scarecrow Fest. The Valley boasted nearly 150 scarecrows this year, most of which were available for public viewing and voting to determine viewers’ favorites in the “field”.

The SYV Scarecrows, crafted by local businesses, organizations and individuals, were showcased across the Santa Ynez Valley in the three main communities of Solvang (including Ballard, plus a handful of scarecrows in Santa Ynez), Buellton and Los Olivos. The overall winning scarecrows from each town were eligible for the “2018 Harvest Cup: Best in the Valley” title and trophy, the winner of which was selected by an anonymous panel of Valley-wide judges.

The Valley’s first Scarecrow Fest was held in Solvang, in 2010. During this year’s Ninth Annual Solvang Scarecrow Fest, locals, tourists and area merchants voted for scarecrow winners in seven different categories, with about 90 scarecrows from which to choose. Solvang’s 2018 “Popular Vote” winners were: Best Photo Opportunity, TIE between Holiday Inn Express and ZFolio Gallery; Best Use of Recycled Materials, Wandering Dog Wine Bar; Best Use of Business Theme, Santa Ynez Valley Cottage Hospital; Most Danish, The Home Connection; Spookiest, The Landsby / Mad & Vin; Most Humorous, TIE between Coast Plumbing Solutions and The Stone Cow; and Best “Actual” Scarecrow (meaning, scarecrows made with more traditional materials), The Good Life. In addition to the seven category winners determined by public voting, anonymous judges awarded a “Best Scarecrow” title to an overall City of Solvang winner, The Landsby and Mad & Vin, which went on to compete for and win the “2018 Harvest Cup”.

In Los Olivos, about 20 businesses participated in the sixth annual Valley-wide Scarecrow Fest. The Los Olivos Scarecrow Fest saw visitors and residents voting on their favorite scarecrows with winners in the following categories: Best Los Olivos Scarecrow, Stolpman Vineyards; Most Humorous, Bien Nacido & Solomon Hills Estate Wines; Spookiest, Zinke Wine Co.; Best Business Theme, Stolpman Vineyards; Best Natural Materials, Honey Paper. The overall Los Olivos scarecrow winner – Stolpman Vineyards – represented the town in the quest for the “2018 Harvest Cup” trophy.

The Buellton Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau sponsored this year’s annual Buellton Scarecrow Fest. Buellton’s scarecrows were judged by locals, tourists and merchants, as well as a panel of judges, with winners in the following categories: Windmill Nursery, Best Use of Natural Materials; Jim Vreeland Ford, Most Humorous; Zaca Center Preschool, Best Use of Business Theme; and Santa Ynez Valley Marriott, Spookiest. Buellton’s “Best Scarecrow” winner, Sideways Inn, represented the City in the Valley-wide contest.

More information about each year’s Santa Ynez Valley Scarecrow Fest will be available at www.syvscarecrows.com (web site is currently under reconstruction) as well as on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at facebook.com/SYVScarecrowFest, twitter.com/SYVscarecrows and instagram.com/SYVscarecrows.

The post 2018 Santa Ynez Valley Scarecrow Fest winners announced appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

Santa Ynez Valley merchants welcomed the fall season by kicking off the annual Scarecrow Fest and contest on Oct. 1. Residents and tourists are invited to vote on their favorite creations throughout the month.

This year’s contest will for the sixth time include the valley communities of Ballard, Buellton and Los Olivos as well as Solvang, the town that started the Scarecrow Fest. Scarecrows can also be found around Santa Ynez and Los Alamos during October.

The month-long festival will run through Oct. 31, during which time visitors and residents are encouraged to play, stay and enjoy the scarecrow sights and many community events.

Those events include the inaugural Solvang Grape Stomp on Saturday, Oct. 13, and the Solvang 3rd Wednesday Wine & Beer Walk on Oct. 17.

The winning scarecrows from each town, crafted by local businesses, will be eligible for the “2018 Harvest Cup: Best in the Valley” title and trophy, which will be announced at a Nov. 14 ceremony.

Hampton Inn & Suites of Buellton and the Santa Ynez Valley was the 2017 SYV Scarecrow Fest overall winner.

Each of the participating towns holds its own Scarecrow Fest and associated contest to select a winner that will represent each town in the quest for the valley-wide Harvest Cup trophy.

The Valley’s first Scarecrow Fest was held in Solvang in 2010, initiated by the Solvang 3rd Wednesday committee.

For more information, go to www.syvscarecrows.comor follow the event on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Scarecrow voters and visitors are encouraged to use the hashtag #syvscarecrows in on-line discussions of the SYV Scarecrow Fest.

 For more information, contact Anna Ferguson-Sparksat 1-877-327-2656or info@stilettomarketing.com.

The post Scarecrow Fest kicks off fall-themed events appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

Santa Ynez Valley merchants will welcome the fall season with their annual Scarecrow Fest and contest on Sunday, Oct. 1, with residents and tourists invited to vote on their favorite creations.

This year’s contest, sponsored in part by Visit Santa Ynez Valley, will for the fifth time include the valley communities of Ballard, Buellton and Los Olivos, as well as Solvang, the town that started the Scarecrow Fest.

The month-long festival will run through Oct. 31, during which time visitors and residents are encouraged to play, stay and enjoy the scarecrow sights and many community events.

Those events include the Santa Barbara Vintners’ Celebration of Harvest weekend, Sept. 29-Oct. 2; Solvang 3rd Wednesday Wine & Beer Walk, Oct. 18; and Real Men Cook, Oct. 21.

In addition, Halloween events include the 24th annual Halloween Haunted House and Street Fest in Solvang, Oct. 30-31; Santa Ynez Halloween Street Faire, Oct. 31; and the Ballard Inn Haunted House, Oct. 31.

The season also includes an all-out “country living” festival with Los Olivos’ 38th annual “Day in the Country,” Oct. 21; and a fantasy-filled weekend when the Solvang Faeriefest comes to the Solvang Festival Theater on Oct. 14-15.

Organizers expect nearly 200 scarecrows to compete for the public’s votes in this year’s contest.

The scarecrows, crafted by local businesses, individuals and school organizations, will be showcased throughout the valley in Solvang, Ballard, Los Olivos and Buellton. The winning scarecrows from each town will be eligible for the “2017 Harvest Cup: Best in the Valley” title and trophy, which will be announced at a mid-November ceremony in Buellton.

The Home Connection in Solvang won the 2016 Harvest Cup for their scarecrow entry, titled “Succulent Sam.”

Each of the participating towns holds its own Scarecrow Fest and associated contest to select a winner that will represent each town in the quest for the valley-wide Harvest Cup trophy.

The Valley’s first Scarecrow Fest was held in Solvang in 2010, initiated by the Solvang 3rd Wednesday committee.

For more information, go to www.syvscarecrows.com or follow the event on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Scarecrow voters and visitors are encouraged to use the hashtag #syvscarecrows in on-line discussions of the SYV Scarecrow Fest.

For more information, contact Anna Ferguson-Sparks at 1-877-327-2656 or info@stilettomarketing.com.

The post Scarecrow Fest kicks off fall-themed events appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

Send us your favorite scarecrows by email at news@santaynezvalleystar.com or tag #syvstar on your social media! Your photo might make the November issue! 

Star Report

The Santa Ynez Valley has kicked off the Annual Santa Ynez Valley (SYV) Scarecrow Fest and Contest starting on Friday, October 7, and will run until November 7, with people encouraged to vote for their favorite entries. This year’s Scarecrow Fest is sponsored in part by Visit Santa Ynez Valley, and include the “SYV” communities of Ballard, Buellton, Los Alamos, Los Olivos and Solvang.

The Valley will boast nearly 200 scarecrows this year, on which the public is invited to judge and vote for their favorites in the “field”. The SYV Scarecrows, crafted by local businesses, individuals and organizations, will be showcased throughout the and the winning scarecrows from each town will be eligible for the “2016 Harvest Cup: Best in the Valley” title and trophy, the winner of which will be announced at a November 16 ceremony in Buellton. Los Olivos business, Honey Paper, was awarded the 2015 Harvest Cup due to their mastery of scarecrow crafting.

Each of the Santa Ynez Valley towns holds their own, individual Scarecrow Fest and associated Contest; the rules vary slightly from town to town, but all have the ultimate goal of appointing a “Best Scarecrow” to represent each respective town in the quest for the Valley-wide Harvest Cup trophy.

One new facet of the 2016 SYV Scarecrow Fest, is the revived effort that the SYV town of Los Alamos is putting forth, for this year’s contest. Los Alamos’ Scarecrow Fest – coordinated by Vanessa Price, Tasting Room Manager at the Los Alamos outpost of Municipal Winemakers, at The Alamo Motel – will boast scarecrow entries this year from the likes of Municipal Winemakers and Shelter Social Club (owners of The Alamo Motel), Bell Street Farm, Bob’s Well Bread Bakery, Pico at the Los Alamos General Store, Casa Dumetz Wines + Babi’s Beer Emporium, Bedford Winery, Full of Life Flatbread, Plenty on Bell, The C Gallery, and the 1880 Union Hotel.

Not to be outdone, the Solvang Scarecrow Fest will include more than 100 scarecrow entries this year, all coordinated by Marisa Yott of Social Buzz SYV, while Los Olivos’ Scarecrow Fest, coordinated by Kelley Lucia, and Buellton’s Scarecrow Fest, put together by Kathy Vreeland, Executive Director of the Buellton Visitors Bureau and Chamber of Commerce, will also contribute dozens of scarecrows to this year’s “Fest”.

The Valley’s first Scarecrow Fest was held in Solvang, in 2010, initiated by the Solvang Third Wednesday committee. The original contest was created to drive business to each of the participating companies, storefronts, merchants and organizations, as well as to the town and the surrounding Santa Ynez Valley locales, in general. Past years’ Santa Ynez Valley Scarecrow Fests have received far-reaching publicity, drawing increased visitor activity to the region and inspiring other California towns to host a Scarecrow Fest of their own, such as the Big Bear Village Scarecrow Festival.

More information about this year’s Santa Ynez Valley Scarecrow Fest is available at www.syvscarecrows.com. Scarecrow seekers may also follow the Santa Ynez Valley Scarecrow Fest happenings on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, at facebook.com/SYVScarecrowFest, twitter.com/SYVscarecrows, and instagram.com/syvscarecrows. Scarecrow voters and visitors are encouraged to use the hashtag #syvscarecrows in on-line discussions of the SYV Scarecrow Fest.

The post SYV Scarecrow Fest runs until November 7 appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.

The post Farm Supply Scarecrow Fest appeared first on Santa Ynez Valley Star.