Karen Pinsent understands the importance of scarecrows in Lunenburg County. She’s one of the directors of the Mahone Bay Signature Festivals Society. Recently, the Scarecrow Festival and Father Christmas Festival have joined forces to create a non-profit society. Sharing resources, volunteers, and a passion for festivals, the organization is excited for its scarecrow stars to begin filling the lawns of homes and businesses in Mahone Bay. “It makes good sense to put them together,” says Pinsent.
If you were impressed by the sheer number of scarecrows during last year’s festival, you might be surprised to know that more scarecrows are being created as we speak. The festival has a permanent home now in the Mahone Bay Trinity United Church basement. Pinsent says that previously, volunteers would have to cobble together their scarecrow creations in peoples’ garages and dining rooms. Now, they have a workshop of their own.
Pinsent encourages locals to come by the workshop on Thursday evenings to make their own scarecrow. There is no set cost to create and take home your own scarecrow pal, but donations are helpful to cover the cost of materials. Volunteers will guide you along in the process to create your perfect scarecrow.
The extremely popular pie contest will also be part of the festival this year. Judges Jennah Barry (of Famous Town Pie Shop) and Mike Bishop (of the Barn Coffee & Social House) will sample the submissions from amateur pie-bakers. A third judge is yet to be announced.
This year’s festival will take place from September 27 to October 14. Consider joining in the community spirit and making your own scarecrow. Pinsent emphasizes that it’s easier to make a scarecrow than one might think. “If you can get dressed in the morning, you can dress a scarecrow,” she says.
