13th Annual Scarecrow Festival 2025 • Edmonds Historical Museum

The Scarecrow Festival

The Scarecrow festival is a family-friendly event that allows local residents and businesses to show off their scarecrows!

It’s a fun event for the community, it fosters ties between businesses, residents, customers, arts and student groups, and you can have fun decorating the city for trick-or-treating.

Submit your scarecrow entry between September 23rd and October 23rd by 6 pm.
Vote for your favorite entry between October 24th and November 1st.
The top three winners in each category will receive a commemorative certificate. The top winners will receive a ghoulish goodie bag.
Winners will be announced November 5th.
Please consider making a donation to help cover the costs of producing this event so we can keep it going in the future.

How it Works

Create

Build a family-friendly handmade scarecrow and show off your creation.

Enter

Take a photo of your scarecrow and enter the contest.

Vote

View the contest entries and vote for your favorite.

Enjoy

Enjoy the photo gallery of winning scarecrow entries.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the scarecrow entry categories?

Residential (single or multi-family, care facilities)
Retail Business (stores & shops, except art galleries)
Service Business (legal, medical, travel, salon)
Food/Beverage Business (restaurants, bars, coffee)
Financial/Insurance/Real Estate (banks, agents, financial consultants)
Arts/Government/School/Civic (galleries, city, artists, service clubs)
Non-Voting (I just want to share my scarecrow)

Are there special requirements for downtown businesses?

We ask that Scarecrows be displayed in front of the business, preferably outside, or in front window for best viewing.
Outside Scarecrows should not extend more that 2 feet into the sidewalk from the front of the building, similar to a bench or flower container.
Please do not use the sidewalk further from the front of your business or the sidewalk holes used for flags.
Please do not place scarecrows in the city corner garden areas.

More FAQs

What are the requirements for eligible scarecrows?

We ask only that Scarecrows be handmade and family friendly. You are allowed to enter a scarecrow from a previous year.

How will winners be decided?

Winners in each category will be determined by vote of the public on this website, or by paper ballot obtained and dropped off at the Museum. One vote per person, please.

For each category the Best 1st Time Builder and Best Depiction of Edmonds History winners will be decided by a panel of judges.

What are the prizes for winners?

Winners will be announced on November 5th. The winner in each category will receive a certificate of recognition and bragging rights. First place in each category will receive a ghoulish goodie bag.

Who can enter?

We welcome entries from Edmonds and all of South Snohomish County and surrounding areas.

Where will the scarecrows be displayed?

Throughout the city of Edmonds and South Snohomish County.

Will I receive a Scarecrow Festival sign?

All residential & business scarecrow entries will receive Scarecrow Festival signs within a few days of entering (provided you included an address).

How do I return the Scarecrow Festival sign after the festival?

Please make every effort to return your sign to the Museum (118 5th Ave. North) by November 8. Leave on front steps if Museum closed.

If you aren’t able to return the sign to Museum, please call the Scarecrow Hotline at 425-774-0900, leave a message and a volunteer will pick up signs left in plain sight at scarecrow location.

If sign is not returned, or we don’t hear from you, a volunteer will call you to follow-up. Don’t dispose of the sign or wire stand, we need to reuse them!

How do I build a scarecrow?

View our How To Build a Scarecrow document for simple build directions, and an internet search will generate a lot of ideas.

Who is sponsoring this event?

The event is sponsored by the Edmonds Historical Museum (Edmonds-South Snohomish County Historical Society and Museum). We also work in partnership with DEMA, The Greater Edmonds Chamber of Commerce, the City of Edmonds, schools and arts groups.

What if I have a question that is not answered here?

Call the Scarecrow Hotline at the Edmonds Museum at 425-774-0900. Select the Scarecrow Festival option and leave a message. Someone will call you back.