Line dancing, a car show, live music and a number of crowd-pleasing activities for children are among the festivities planned for the upcoming 26th annual Scarecrow Fest in Delavan.
For more than a quarter century, this free, family-friendly community festival has brought together local Delavan residents and visitors alike for a fun extravaganza as the sultry summer weather gives way to cooler fall temperatures.
This year’s Scarecrow Fest is taking place on two days, kicking off at 5 p.m., and running until 10 p.m., on Friday, September 18. The fun resumes Saturday, September 19, with festivities occurring from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Julia Heiser, event specialist and deputy clerk with the City of Delavan, is helping plan this year’s Scarecrow Fest. She described the time-honored tradition as the de facto “Downtown Delavan celebration of fall.”
“It’s a great community celebration,” Heiser says. “Businesses and organizations will create their own scarecrows that will be lined up and down the street, so that’s where the name comes from. But the entire event really is an assortment of everything.”
This year’s Scarecrow Fest includes a few new features, including a free line-dancing program that appropriately is the kick off to the two-day extravaganza.
A certified instructor will lead the crowd on line dancing moves along the brick-covered Walworth Avenue, in front of Tower Park. All skill levels are welcome to participate.
Alongside line dancing, Friday’s program includes a double elimination bags tournament, fire pits, food trucks and a pop-up beer garden. Local brews, including hard cider flights from AeppelTreow Winery and Distillery, are a part of the beer garden offerings.
Saturday’s full-day program is jam-packed with festivities, including live entertainment. The Flying Dragons will perform a martial arts demonstration. A professional bubble-making show also is sure to dazzle visitors, as will a magic show and a performance from the Lofty Life Aerial Dance group.
A car show also will roll into Scarecrow Fest on day two of the program. Participants can register their cars for a $10 fee and have it showcased in the Downtown area.
Live music, a longtime feature at Scarecrow Fest, is back this year as well. Cheryl & The Down Home Boys, The Spirit Shakers, Thompson Duo and Think Floyd (a Pink Floyd tribute and light show group) all are slated to perform on day two.
A petting zoo, mural tours, a duck raffle, balloon artist and the Chamber’s pumpkin giveaway are also on tap this year.
“It’s a little bit of something for everybody,” Heiser says in describing the array of events for this year’s Scarecrow Fest.
While locals annually make Scarecrow Fest a part of the autumnal routine, the event also is a great way to incorporate an extended getaway and experience some of what Delavan has to offer for fall festivities as a classic Midwestern town.
Two local lodging establishments — Lake Lawn Resort and Main Street Manor — are offering promotions during Scarecrow Fest, with discounted rates and other special offerings throughout the event.
“If you mention ‘Scarecrow Fest’ and book a room, you get a special package,” Heiser says in summing up the promotion. “They’ll have a lot great goodies for the guests.”
While the City of Delavan is overseeing Scarecrow Fest, Heiser says the event is a collaborative effort between a number of civic organizations within the community.
“This really is a group effort,” Heiser says. “Visit Delavan is supporting us, the Delavan-Delavan Lake Area Chamber of Commerce is supporting us. The Delavan Public Library is going to be doing their petting zoo, and the Phoenix Park Bandshell is a very important part of this as well.”
For a full schedule of this year’s Scarecrow Fest activities, visit the City of Delavan’s website. To learn about other upcoming events in the community, head over to Visit Delavan’s events page.
