Hay, There! Scarecrows to Return to Downtown Canby

Not even the coronavirus could derail one of Canby’s newer, but still beloved, traditions. The scarecrow contest returns to downtown Canby this fall.

Canby Scarecrow Contest organizer Shannon Allee, of Hot Rod Dreamworks, said the third annual version will be presented virtually unchanged from previous years.

Local businesses, schools, organizations and clubs will be invited to build and decorate scarecrows for placement throughout the downtown core.

The scarecrows themselves can be made out of almost anything, from your more traditional effigies forged from worn-out old clothes and straw to, well, pretty much anything the Canby community can imagine.

The scarecrow contest, and its sister event, the Canby Snowman Contest in December, have produced figures made from mannequins, trash bags, water tanks, trash bags, hay bales, old tires and even prefabricated signs.

Once the scarecrows are installed, Hot Rod Dreamworks will offer an online portal for residents to vote for their favorites, with the winning organization winning a cash prize. The scarecrow display and voting run throughout the month of October.

Allee said the only change this year is that participating groups may purchase a sign for their scarecrow with their business name and logo on it for $5. Registration may be done online at hotroddreamworks.com.

The deadline to register is Sept. 28. For more information about participating in or sponsoring the annual scarecrow contest, contact Allee at hotroddreamworks@canby.com.

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