Canceled Scarecrow Contest Revived By Trio of Somers Volunteers

SOMERS, CT — In what has been a rather solemn year due to the coronavirus pandemic, most area residents, particularly students, have endured the cancellation of many annual local and regional events - spring sports, proms, the Four Town Fair and the Big E, to name just a few. Another popular activity which had gone by the wayside was the fall scarecrow contest, which was canceled by the Somers Cultural Commission in late September.

Somehow in just 20 days, however, a trio of Somers residents banded together and not only rejuvenated the contest, but have organized a fun-filled festival for families. The event will run this Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Pleasant View Golf Center on Route 83, at the Somers/Ellington town line.

After the original contest was canceled, Facebook chatter evolved into an exchange of ideas, numerous phone calls and running around, and ultimately the bigger-than-anticipated event. The main organizers are Cynthia Mike, Kara Wolters and Joe Lipton, whose family owns Pleasant View.

"It was kind of dropped into our laps," Wolters said in a phone interview Tuesday. "What started as a scarecrow judging contest has turned into a festival, with 18 craft vendors, seven food trucks and an awesome kid zone with games, prizes, a pumpkin patch and a balloon guy."

Judging for the scarecrow contest will be done in a twofold fashion: in person at the event, and online. Contest entries are limited only to Somers residents or business persons, and may be brought to the festival for viewing, or photos may be submitted by those unable to attend in person. Deadline for entries is Friday at 6 p.m.

Scarecrows must be handmade; no store-bought entries will be allowed, nor will any political, activism or potentially offensive creations. Prizes will be awarded in eight different categories:

• Scariest
• Funniest
• Cutest
• Best under 10 years old
• Traditional
• Most original
• Best representation of a movie of TV series
• Best business entry

There is no admission charge to attend the festival. A raffle will be conducted to help offset the costs of putting on the event, with remaining money being donated to the town's social services Adopt-a-Family Christmas program, Wolters said.

Among the top-notch raffle items are a remote car starter, valued at $400, and several items of memorabilia autographed by legendary Hall of Fame basketball coach Geno Auriemma, for whom Wolters played in the mid-1990s, including the perfect 35-0 season in 1994-95 which delivered the first of what has become 11 national championships for the UConn women's program.

More information and entry forms may be found here.

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