Medina Lions welcome community for Scarecrow Fest at Fairgrounds on Oct. 12

File photo by Tom Rivers: Pete Kaiser secures a hat on a scarecrow during last year’s Scarecrow Fest at the Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds on Oct. 14.

KNOWLESVILLE – The Orleans County 4-H Fairgrounds will be brimming with activity of a haunted kind when the annual Scarecrow Festival returns on Oct. 12.

For nearly 20 years, children and their families have attended the event to build their own unique scarecrow.

The Scarecrow Festival is sponsored by Medina Lions and has taken place in various locations around the village, until finding a home at the fairgrounds. Early festivals were at the YMCA, Roberts Farm Market, Forrestel Farms and the Canal Basin, but the fairgrounds has turned out to be the ideal location, said Lions president Tom Robinson.

There is ample parking and plenty of room for children to build a scarecrow or romp in the straw. The cost per child is $12.

The first step for children is to choose one of the stakes which Lions provide in two sizes. Then they pick out a face which has been painted by Medina High School art students and continue to the clothing area. Here, they choose from skirts, pants, shirts, blouses, belts, scarves and hats, donated by the MAAC Thrift Shop.

After dressing and stuffing their scarecrow with straw, they proceed to the “surgeons,” who sew up the scarecrow.

A new event this year will be pumpkin decorating contest from 9 a.m. to noon by the Master Gardeners. There will be a prize for the best pumpkin.

In addition, there will be a kids’ pumpkin painting activity and a carving demonstration.

Robinson stressed that adults will be available in all areas of the building to assist children. Students from Job Corps will also be on hand to lend a hand.

A food stand will have hotdogs, chips and beverages available.

Robinson said all money raised is used by the Lions to support non-profits in the community.

Many families return year after year, he said. Some say they save their creation each year and add it to their Halloween display the next year.

Robinson has visited Medina, Lyndonville and Albion school districts, leaving information on the event for all students in kindergarten through sixth grade.

But all children, even adults, are welcome to take part.

The Scarecrow Festival and Community Yard Sale in June are the Lions two biggest fundraisers, Robinson said.