This fall season marks the eighth annual Scarecrow on Main contest in Monroe Township. Since September 20, the light posts down Main Street have gradually become decked out in hay and homemade scarecrows donned in themed outfits.
Monroe Township Community Affairs hosts the annual contest. It was free to participate in. All participants needed to do was sign up for a time to put up their scarecrow, craft up their design, and set up their homemade scarecrow. The set-up period ran from September 20 through October 5.
The community gets to be involved by later voting on their favorite scarecrows. Residents are encouraged to walk around Main Street, check out the variations, and cast a vote via online form for their favorite scarecrow throughout the first two full weeks of October. The winners will be announced at the annual Halloween Parade on Saturday, October 17 and posted on Facebook.
“We got a lot of positive feedback from it,” Brandee Derieux, Monroe Township Community Affairs supervisor, said in an email. “People walk up and down to check them out and to cast their votes. We don’t pick the winner, we let the public pick the winner.”
At time of press, there were 30 groups and individuals signed up to have a scarecrow in the contest. In recent years, the most scarecrows they have had were 27.
There are submissions from families, local businesses, organizations, Monroe Township offices, political groups and more. Each group gets very creative with their work.
Living Recovery Network, a substance use recovery organization in town, set up a scarecrow in running and race gear to promote its upcoming race on October 10. Local boy scouts set up a scarecrow in scout attire holding a popcorn bucket. Proud Monroe Township sports’ parents set up a scarecrow decked in blue with a “Go Braves” sign and a bucket of game time snacks.
And those were only some of the scarecrows up during the first week.
“I really like the school janitor and the school scarecrows,” Derieux said. “In the past we had one that appeared to be flying and it was amazing. But I love them all.”
The contest will award the top three scarecrows. The first place winner will receive a $100 Visa gift card, second place will receive a $50 Visa gift card and third place will win a $25 Visa gift card. Plus, the Monroe Township department that wins will receive free lunch for the entire office.
“Scarecrows on Main is a lot of fun,” Derieux said. “Every year it’s never the same.”
The scarecrows will stay up throughout the entire Halloween season.
Some of the scarecrows part of the Scarecrows on Main contest.
