For a while, it looked like the scarecrow might win the fight.
Pieces of hay covered Becky Ferris from head to toe.
Determined, Ferris plunged handfuls of hay into the over-alls wearing scarecrow until a body started to take shape.
This wasn’t the first time Ferris had stuffed a scarecrow.
She had done the chore plenty of times growing up on her parents’ farm in northwest Ohio.
On Friday, Ferris reverted back to her roots to create the scarecrow that now sits in front of the Carquest Auto Parts store in Olde Town Arvada.
The outside sales representative for Carquest’s Arvada stores, Ferris volunteered to create the business’s auto part-themed scarecrow for the upcoming Festival of Scarecrows.
Crows of Olde Town beware.
The Carquest scarecrow will be one of dozens of hay-stuffed figures that will line Olde Town Square and Olde Wadsworth Boulevard starting at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 14, for the 10th Annual Festival of Scarecrows.
Visitors to the festival will have a chance to wander Olde Town and vote for their favorite scarecrows, which are built by Olde Town merchants, local community groups and area residents.
“It is a lot of fun, people get real elaborate and detailed with their scarecrows,” said Melissa Bloomquist, co-organizer of the festival. “This is a great family festival for people to come down and see all the scarecrows, pick up a pumpkin and show off the kids Halloween costume.”
The festival will be the first event held in the newly renovated Olde Town Square, according to Historic Olde Town Arvada Program Manager Jason Dennison. The square is expected to be finished Friday, Oct. 13.
In addition to the scarecrow contest, several events will be held at the festival that cater to children and the young at heart.
Free horse-drawn hayrides for all ages will run through Olde Town from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. By bringing canned food items or money donations for the Arvada Food Bank, children will be able to take a vintage fire truck ride around Olde Town or run through a “Kids’ Puzzle Maze” at the event.
Children are encouraged to come to the festival in their Halloween costumes to take part in the Kids’ Scarecrow Costume Parade. Starting at 11 a.m. in Olde Town Square, children 12 and under and invited to show off their Halloween persona while following children’s entertainer Ruby Cool the Clown Jewell.
“Kids love to wear their costume as much as possible, and this gives them another chance,” Bloomquist said.
Pumpkins will be available for purchase at the event for $2, and pumpkin growers are encouraged to bring in their biggest gourd for the Great Pumpkin Contest.
The contest is sponsored and judged by members of the Arvada Gardeners organization — who will measure the pumpkins by size and weight. Contest judging will begin at 1 p.m.
The festival scarecrows sometimes frighten more than just birds.
Cub Scout Pack 510 Den 2 leader Kelly Blood has received more than one fright from the scarecrow her Cub Scouts made for the festival. After recently walking into her dark garage and seeing a shadowy figure lurking, Blood moved the scarecrow onto the well lit front lawn.
Blood’s entire Cub Scout Pack 510 will be attending Saturday’s festival. It’s an event she said teaches her scouts about community participation.
“I try to teach the kids that they are part of the Arvada community,” she said. “We like to do things like this so the kids can grow up knowing they have an impact on their community.”
Chris Dimick is the Arvada Community Editor. He can be reached at 303-339-4332, ext. 23.
The Festival
What: 10th Annual Festival of Scarecrows
When: 10 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 14
Where: Olde Town Square, West 57th Avenue and Olde Wadsworth Boulevard, Arvada
Cost: Events are free with donation of canned food item