STEVENSVILLE, Mont. – Stevensville residents are coming together this weekend to celebrate the town’s 19th annual scarecrow festival. Over 60 creatively crafted figures are expected to adorn the streets, each uniquely designed by locals. Voting for the best scarecrow began today, with the winner set to be announced on Sunday.
Andrea Buchanan, a yoga instructor in Downtown Stevensville, sees the festival as a unifying event for the community. “It’s really a great way to pull the town together and it brings a lot of people here to the town and that just feels really great for Stevensville,” she said.
Downtown Stevensville is decorated with more than just scarecrows. Locals have included creative designs involving skeletons and even spiders outside of businesses. Ballots are available throughout downtown, allowing visitors to vote for their favorite displays. However, many participants agree that the event is more about fostering a sense of community rather than competition.
Gigi Mills, owner of Gigi’s Floral Shop, emphasized the inclusive atmosphere of the festival.
“I just think all of us we’re kind of on an equal playing field. We’re all creative. We all love Stevensville. We love participating. We are all artistic and creative in some ways,” said Mills.
Dina Kuhlman and Chad Smith from Valley Drug and Variety hope the event will draw both residents and visitors into town. “I’d love to get as many people as we can get into town to check out what we have to offer. It’d be great,” said Smith.
“Absolutely lots of little kids… Love seeing the joy on people’s faces… Old young alike,” Kuhlman added.
In addition to the displays, the festival features live music and food trucks, which will continue to draw crowds into tomorrow. Some residents are already preparing for next year’s events, hinting at the growing excitement for the festival’s 20th anniversary.
Though the festival faced challenges a few years ago due to a lack of volunteer support, it has bounced back and continues to thrive as a beloved Stevensville tradition.
