Visitors of all ages will mark the start of the fall season at the 23rd annual Great Akron Scarecrow Festival from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 16 at the Akron City Park.
The festival will feature a scarecrow decorating contest, homemade food and baked goods, kids games and activities, a petting zoo and dozens of craft vendors.
The scarecrow decorating contest has become the centerpiece of the festival. Any individual, group, business or organization is welcome to enter the contest. There are 20 prize categories and nearly $1,000 in cash prizes in the decorating contest.
No entrance fee or preregistration is required. Anyone interested in entering a scarecrow can bring it to the city park between 8 and 9:30 a.m. Sept. 16. Contest rules can be found at akronscarecrowfestival.com.
The festival is hosted and organized by the 40 members of the Akron Friendship & Service Club, a nonprofit charitable and …