St. Charles Scarecrow Weekend: A Local Tradition

Kathleen Lao from St. Charles settled into the community only two months ago. Yet, she has already discovered an annual event she intends to revisit frequently. ‘We recently moved here and found out about this scarecrow festival and it’s just wonderful,’ she shared while admiring numerous hay-filled creations lining Riverside Avenue during the annual Scarecrow Weekend festival in St. Charles. ‘I understand this is a community tradition and I love the area. I have a baby on the way and this will definitely be something I’ll come back for.’

This weekend, St. Charles is vivid with colorful displays and abundant autumn activities. The St. Charles Business Alliance, alongside its sponsors, hosts the 41st annual Scarecrow Weekend, a three-day festival that commenced Friday and continues until Sunday afternoon. Festival officials noted that over 120 scarecrows are featured downtown, together with live music, children’s activities, food, entertainment, and more.

As per a press release from the St. Charles Business Alliance, a scarecrow contest enables ‘visitors to vote for their favorites in four categories,’ including scarecrows created by individuals, clubs, non-profits, and businesses. Lincoln Park has transformed into the festival’s Family Zone, offering live music, dance performances, activity booths, and roaming entertainment.

Executive Director Jenna Sawicki of the St. Charles Business Alliance expressed satisfaction with this year’s scarecrow total. ‘The scarecrow count is slightly higher than last year and we’re very happy with the number,’ she noted. ‘This is the highest total we’ve had since COVID. It’s lasted over four decades because people love celebrating the beautiful fall weather and enjoy coming together as a community to celebrate St. Charles and all our businesses. It’s a great occasion to meet friends, neighbors, and family. It’s a free event for everyone.’

Officials anticipate around 80,000 attendees over the festival’s three days. Monique Hillestad, from Hanover Park, also visited the scarecrow fest for the first time, with her 10-week-old son Emerson in tow. ‘I know he’s too young to do anything, but it’s still fun pushing him in the stroller outside and enjoying the decorations and pumpkins,’ she commented.

Longtime resident Cristin Wetzel from St. Charles has enjoyed the scarecrow fest numerous times over nearly a decade. Wetzel and her daughter Maeve, 9, shared a delightful time at the event on Friday, Oct. 9, 2026. ‘This is a free fun event for kids. There’s something for all ages, and it’s spread out so you can explore both sides of the river and make stops in between,’ Wetzel observed. She noted that her children enjoyed interacting with scarecrows and navigating the corn maze.

‘The event’s size has grown each year,’ Wetzel added. ‘With the build-your-own scarecrow activity and a craft fair, it’s very family-oriented.’ Her daughter Maeve highlighted her favorite activities: ‘I like the corn maze, painting the pumpkins, and seeing all the funny scarecrows.’