Whitworth Scarecrow Festival

1st place - Curiouser and Curiouser at 6 Orama Avenue - Whitworth Scarecrow Festival

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The fifth Whitworth Scarecrow Festival took place from Saturday 27 June to Sunday 5 July, and the talent and imagination on display was impressive.

The festival saw 30 separate displays scattered across the length of the town, with entries ranging from characters from popular children’s films to original ideas inspired by topical events or pure imagination.

Some displays were produced by members of the public and some were made by schools, churches and local businesses and voluntary organisations.

The weather was reasonably kind with little rain landing over the course of the nine days, and there was a great take-up of the official trail maps.

The festival spirit was dampened, however, by the vandalism of a couple of scarecrows, with the display made by Healey Care Ltd, situated on the main road in Facit, receiving a lot of damage.

This year the public voted on which display they would like to see win. 146 votes were cast, and the winner was announced at the town’s Family Fun Day on Sunday 5 July:

• Winner: ‘Curiouser and Curiouser’ (Orama Avenue)
• Second: ‘A Cut Above’ (School Terrace)
• Third (joint): ‘Rasta Crow’ (Princess Street)
• Third (jointer): ‘Who’s Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf’ (St Bartholomew’s Primary)

All votes cast were automatically entered into a prize draw to win a vegetable box from Facit Garden Centre; the lucky winner was Nickie Baron.

The festival is organised by the Whitworth Tourism and Leisure Committee.

Councillor David Chorlton, chair of the Committee says: “The main aims of the festival are to encourage a sense of pride in our town, and to give the community something a little different; judging from the very positive feedback we feel the Festival continues to achieve these aims.

"On behalf of the Committee, I’d like to thank everyone who took part in the Festival and who took the time to visit the displays. The entrants worked so hard on their displays – some were funny, some more poignant, but all were wonderful and we look forward to doing it all again in 2016.

"As always, we would encourage as many members of the Whitworth community to take part next year, and dates and details of how to enter will be issued in due course.”