By Steve Hubrecht
Columbia Valley residents still clinging to the last vestiges of summer may need to finally let go. In a sure sign of autumn, Invermere’s Great Scarecrow Competition is back.
This year marks the 5th edition of the annual event which has grown over the years.
The competition is as simple as it is fun: build the most festive scarecrow possible in front of your home, school, workplace or organization headquarters.
There’s no entry fee this year, but to win some of the prizes on offer, you need to register with the District of Invermere.
The scarecrow needs to be up from Wednesday, Oct. 2 to Tuesday, Oct. 15. Local residents and visitors can then tour around town, viewing the scarecrows and voting for their favourites.
“It’s a great event. People really do like creating the scarecrows, and they like going around town looking at them,” Invermere Mayor Al Miller told the Pioneer.
The Great Scarecrow Competition had its origins in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 when Invermere leisure services manager Cortney Pitts was trying to think outside the box to come up with events that were fun but which followed social distancing protocols. The scarecrow contest fit the bill and was instantly popular, with dozens of residents, businesses and nonprofit groups participating.
Once the pandemic subsided, “we just carried it on. It’s continued to be very popular,” said Miller. “I think one of the things that gives it appeal is that it really allows people to get their imaginations going.”
Pitts outlined to the Pioneer that, to her, the scarecrow displays represent the strong sense of community in Invermere.
Miller said that there are new and unique scarecrows up each year, but declined to choose a personal favourite. Instead he encouraged people “to get out, take a look for themselves and make their own choices” for their favourites displays.
