Press Release: Scarecrows Will Populate Cranford's Downtown Later This Month

The annual fall event that attracts thousands to see the wild, crazy, unique and creative scarecrows on display in downtown Cranford will begin on Oct. 20 and run through Oct. 30.

The Downtown Management Office, which organizes the event, questioned whether to go ahead in the days and weeks following the hurricane that impacted so many residents, businesses and the DMC itself.

“Several parents called and suggested it would be helpful for the children and we agreed. The 2011 Scarecrow Stroll may be on a smaller scale but we expect that it will be just as much fun,” explained Kathleen Miller Prunty, downtown director.

As usual, the scarecrow creations made by residents will be displayed on the Victorian lamp posts and business owners will show off their scarecrows in store windows or front entrances. The DMC office in the Municipal Building was flooded and files, supplies and equipment were lost.

“We aren’t able to run the event as in previous years but we think people will still
enjoy it. The big difference is voting. In the past, everyone was able to fill out a ballot,” she added.

This year, there will be a group of judges, including the Brookside Place kindergarten class, which has made a scarecrow every year.

“The kindergarten class, which was displaced because the school was flooded, isn’t able to participate this year. We thought it would be great if they could still be involved and asked them to be our honorary scarecrow judges,” Prunty said.

The DMC encourages everyone to come downtown to see the scarecrow display and some of the new shops and restaurants that have opened since last year.