Staff
Head Scarecrow Marilyn Morris is forging ahead with full confidence that the Meaford Scarecrow Invasion and Family Festival executive, sponsors, and volunteers are on board and ready to launch the 2018 invasion.
“Hee-haw,” she said. “Scarecrows are going western this year. We are building on a long-standing tradition of starting early in the new year with a theme, rounding up sponsors and volunteers, and rollin’ on out with one focus in mind, to bring a smile to everyone’s face with hundreds of scarecrows, a parade, and family festival that is family-fun for residents and visitors alike. Last year’s weather threw us a curve ball on our big day but, hey, never say whoa in a mud hole.”
This week, the Meaford Kinsmen Club presented a cheque for $350 to the Meaford Scarecrow Invasion and Family Festival to help offset some of the losses incurred due to last year’s cancellation of the parade and festival on September 29. Not only did the Kinsmen pitch in and help dismantle tents, banners, and light stands in haste during gale force winds and rain, over the two days following they organized hamburger and hot dog sales at Grandma Lambe’s and now have donated proceeds of the sales to the 2018 invasion.
The annual invasion is a community-driven event dependent on volunteers. Equally important are the event sponsors and donors, who contribute funds, services, and support as a complement to the energy and talent of the volunteers. Together they – sponsors, donors, and volunteers – have over the past 21 years grown the annual invasion into an award-winning event that has caught worldwide attention and continues to draw visitors from across Canada, the United States, Europe, and Asia. The economic impact of so many visitors to the Municipality of Meaford during the invasion and during the Big Fall Weekend is significant.
The 2018 invasion will start during the first week of September and continue till after the Thanksgiving weekend. The parade on Sykes Street and family festival hoedown at the Rotary Harbour Pavilion is scheduled for Friday, September 28.
Photo:
The Meaford Scarecrow Invasion and Family Festival’s new treasurer Donna Earl (left) and Head Scarecrow Marilyn Morris (right) accept a cheque for $350 from Meaford Kinsmen Club President Dan White. The funds represent the proceeds of two hamburger and hot dog sales last September at Grandma Lambe’s in the two days following the first-ever cancellation of the annual scarecrow parade and family festival due to the weather.
