Write-Up & Photos by Jacqueline Bennett newsandviewsjb.com

From jovial to spooky, creative creatures decorate planters along one mile of Main Street in “historic” downtown Manchester, Connecticut. The Scarecrow Festival has returned.

It got underway on October 17 and runs to October 30, 2015 with the opportunity to vote for favorites through October 29. Winners will be announced Friday, Oct. 30 at 10 a.m. by the Dancing Bears Fountain next to Mary Cheney Library, 586 Main Street.

Begun seven years ago and sponsored by the Downtown Manchester Special Services District, the contest is fast becoming an annually anticipated display. Visitors are left to the wonderment of what awaits along the scarecrow stroll from Hartford Road up towards Center Street where local businesses, civic groups and other entities transform downtown into a seasonal delight.

In front of MCC on Main, Arts and Education Center – of course, an artist scarecrow.

Howell Cheney Technical School National Art Honor Society & Carpentry Department  pay homage to women in non-traditional roles with a carpenter scarecrow. 

Easy walking distance to the Cheney Mansion, Cheney Homestead, Fire Museum and Cheney Hall in the town’s Historic District, Main Street in Manchester has retained its uncommon diagonal parking and wide travel lanes.

Hungry scarecrows relax outside Corey’s Catsup and Mustard restaurant in Downtown Manchester, CT.

The Scarecrow Festival is free and will be punctuated this coming Saturday, Oct. 24 by “Halloween Happenings”. The event features “Story Time with a Craft” from 10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. at Mary Cheney Library, “Pumpkin Decorating for Children” 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. at Manchester Antiques Mall, “Safe Children’s Downtown Trick-or-Treat” 11: 30 a.m. – 1 p.m. at downtown businesses showing the “Welcome Trick-or-Treaters” decals, and “Downtown Trick-or-Treat Group Photo” 1 p.m. at Center Memorial Park.

Rotary Club scarecrow.

Manchester also offers unique restaurants to try such as Mulberry Street, Center Perk, Corey’s Catsup and Mustard, Hungry Tiger, Hartford Road Cafe, Filomena’s Pizzeria, Bui Vietnamese Cuisine and for more sophisticated taste buds – Cavey’s.

Scarecrow Contest Voting Locations are Anne Miller Real Estate – 975 Main Street, Beller’s Music – 881 Main Street, Katherine’s Hair Design – 695 Main Street, Mary Cheney Library – 586 Main Street, Pinewood Furniture – 1115 Main Street, Salon Petit – 968 Main Street, Silk City Antiques – 845 Main Street, and The Silver Chest – 789 Main Street. Or go to https://www.facebook.com/DowntownManchesterScarecrowFestival to vote for your “Facebook Favorite” online.

For more information check http://www.downtownmanchester.org or call 860-645-2101.