Organizers of the fourth annual Eureka Scarecrow Festival said attendance has been good and interest high, based on observations around Eureka and social media posts.
“I think it has been a great success,” said Greg Brown, Eureka Fire Protection District chief and co-chairman of this year’s Scarecrow Festival. “By going through town, I see a lot of people stopping and taking pictures with the scarecrows. It seems like there were more people in town with more going on.”
The Chamber of Commerce took over the organizing of the festival this year with hopes of expanding attendance by adding numerous events. So far, the strategy appears to be working, with thousands of people participating.
Some 174 scarecrows were placed across the city Oct. 1; events started Oct. 6 with a photo scavenger hunt.
Also during the first weekend, Brookdale Farms played host to the Mud Racers Association’s (MRA) Scarecrow Nationals on Oct. 6-8 and held the second annual North American Wife-Carrying Competition on Oct. 7.
The seventh annual Harvest Moon Run was held at Route 66 State Park on Oct. 7; it was associated with the Scarecrow Festival for the first time this year.
The second weekend of events featured Witches and Warlocks on Central, with numerous Old Town businesses catering to those who dressed up, on Oct. 13. There was also an Artisan Fair on Oct. 14 at Hilltop Village Center, which led into a Pub Crawl/Poker Run that had various stops throughout the city.
“The interest has been fantastic,” said Scarecrow Festival co-chairman BJ Hillermann, vice president and branch manager Farmers and Merchants Bank. “A lot of people have been around town, looking at (the scarecrows) and taking pictures with them. It has gotten a lot of positive responses.
“It is great how the community has come together and embraced it as a communitywide event. That is what we wanted.”
Photo scavenger hunt
On the first day, 20 teams began the scavenger hunt, said Julie Wood, Eureka director of Economic Development and Chamber of Commerce board member.
The hunt will continue throughout October, with teams looking for 20 scarecrows that fit a list of criteria and then turning in photos of themselves with the scarecrow. The list of criteria can be picked up at the chamber, 22 Dreyer Ave., or downloaded from the festival’s Facebook page.
Dan Holmes of Eureka was the first to complete the hunt and won the $100 prize. Others who finish the hunt can turn in their photos at Farmers and Merchants Bank, 619 Stockell Drive, to receive a token for a free ice cream at Culver’s and a buy-one-get-one-free coupon for the Brookdale Farms’ corn maze.
“All month long, you can get the token and buy-one-get-one (coupon),” Wood said.
Brookdale Farms events
Owner Jerry Kirk said the two events held at Brookdale Farms drew good numbers.
The motor mud racing event was attended by about 5,000 people throughout the weekend, including the racing teams of about 10 apiece, Kirk said.
“It was a really good event,” he said. “The weather on Saturday made it a little more difficult. The racers and people came from all over the country. They loved it and want to do it again. It will definitely become an annual event.”
The wife-carrying contest had 11 teams after having eight teams last year. Brian and Shannon Bage of Eureka won, earning them Shannon’s weight in beer.
“It is a tough competition,” Kirk said of the 278-yard obstacle course with wet and dry hazards. “I think some people are scared of it.”
Harvest Moon Run
The Harvest Moon Run attracted 390 participants for the 5K run/walk and two children’s runs, said Carolyn Parmer, one of the run’s organizers.
Daniel Harzmann won the overall men’s race title with a time of 19 minutes, 39 seconds, and Molly Nemnich won the overall female title at 21:36. Awards were also given out in nine other age categories.
Parmer said $12,500 was raised for the Eureka Food Pantry, which meets the needs of over 140 families per month, including many children and seniors.
Parmer also said the Gather to Give Friday, which was held the day before the evening race, was a big success with at least 50 more T-shirts given out. Those who gave $15 or more received a T-shirt.
“Last year, we donated $11,000, and this year, we are able to give even more, $12,500, because our sponsors and moonie participants are secure in knowing their donation is supporting a 100 percent volunteer based partnership between the Harvest Moon Run and the Eureka Food Pantry,” Parmer said.
Witches, warlocks
The second weekend of festival events opened with Witches and Warlocks on Central on Oct. 13. Participants were encouraged to dress up like a witch or warlock, and they paid $10 for an ID bracelet and could visit 12 Old Town businesses on Central Avenue to take part in various activities.
Karen Bopp, owner of Red Door Liquor and Cigars and organizer of the event, said 37 people signed up for it.
“More than anything we did it to network businesses and get our consumers involved with places they had not been into before,” Bopp said. “We got great reviews, and a lot of the people then came (Oct. 14) to do the pub crawl, which had approximately 150 people.”
Ten city establishments located in Hilltop and Old Town were part of the pub crawl.
“I believe we will do (the Witches and Warlocks) again next year, some people were leery because we had never done it before and really didn't understand the concept,” Bopp said. “I wanted a takeoff of the real witches’ night out on a smaller scale, more like an adult trick or treat.
“We have new ideas for next year, and are hoping people spread the word and join the fun.”
Artisan Fair
The Artisan Fair on Oct. 14 attracted approximately 2,000 people to look and shop at the 42 vendor tents set up at Hilltop Village Center, said Michele Roshell, an organizer of the fair.
Roshell said the fair, which has run in conjunction with the festival since 2014, had a different feel this year.
“I think it was better advertised and more recognized,” Roshell said. “The Eureka chamber was really good about keeping their website updated and having links to it. I also think it helped a lot that I was able to change the date. This time I was able to change it, so it wasn’t in conflict with (Eureka High School’s) homecoming.”