Local businesses create scarecrows for Newton Arboretum’s inaugural Fall Festival

The Newton Arboretum & Botanical Gardens is so full of scarecrows that even if it did have crops on its land there wouldn’t be a single bird within 100 yards.

Of course what makes these scarecrows so special is that they were made by members of the community and local businesses and organizations. Full disclosure, even us folks at the Newton News participated in the fun activity, which is all in service to the Fall Festival on Oct. 14 at the Newton Arboretum.

Ina Heidemann, a retired school teacher and board member of Project AWAKE, led the charge in getting people to build scarecrows for the Scarecrow Walk as part of the inaugural festival. The final creations showcase our local businesses and organizations, as well as the community spirit that drives us.

Only about 30 scarecrows were registered for the event, but Heidemann was overjoyed to learn more people who had not registered provided their own handmade scarecrows for the event, many of which will be auctioned off. Heidemann estimates about 75 scarecrows will eventually be on display.

“We were hoping and praying to see this many scarecrows,” Heidemann said.

Christy McCormick, office manager of the Newton Arboretum & Botanical Gardens, said the goal was to get as many they could for the first fall festival, which will also feature a vendor fair, food trucks, a raffle, pumpkins, a sidewalk chalk contest and fresh flowers and mums available for purchase.

Getting the community involved in making scarecrows was the big win. McCormick thinks that if the event goes well and more people learn about it, then next year’s festival will draw even more people and create even more ideas. But first they have to see it to really believe it.

“When people are able to see this and be like, ‘OK! I get it!’ then it’s just going to flourish more and more every year,” McCormick said.

The Fall Festival is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 14 at 3000 N. Fourth Ave. E.