Manhattan’s ‘Scarecrows on Parade’ Tradition Continues

Is that Chief Malone? No, it’s just a scarecrow resembling him. –Photo by Stephanie Irvine.

By Stephanie Irvine

The Village of Manhattan now has its annual “Scarecrows on Parade” on display — this year in the Wabash Street parking lot, a change from past years.

In September each year, community members are invited to pick up a free scarecrow frame from the village for the event, decorate it, and bring it back for Public Works to display.

The display also serves as a contest. The village selects five judges, who volunteer from the business and residential community, and the scarecrows are evaluated on their appearance for best scarecrows. Two cash prizes are awarded, with first place taking home $250, and second place gets $150.

The display dates back to 2015, when then-administrator Kevin Sing had the idea after seeing scarecrows on display in nearby Homewood. Sing has since left the village, but the tradition continues.

“When he brought it up to me, he asked if I would take a ride out to Homewood to take a look at all of their scarecrows,” Shelly Lewis said. “They had them all out on their street. I took pictures and noted how they were assembled. So, we came up with the design for a frame that people could pick up and use,” Lewis explained. She serves as the Executive Administrative Assistant and Clerk for the Village.

Lewis explained the Public Works Department created the scarecrow frames from PVC. The department often assists in constructing various displays for the village, as well as setting up and putting out holiday displays.

The “Scarecrows on Parade” contest is open to all ages. Individuals, families, clubs, groups, and businesses in Manhattan are invited to participate. Each person, family, or group may only enter one time.

How the scarecrows have been displayed and decorated has changed over the years.

The entries must be tasteful — whimsical, humorous, mischievous, or lovable in presentation. They cannot be frightening, and monsters – gruesome or bloody, and especially scary entries would be disqualified.

This caveat was added after the village received complaints that some of the inaugural scarecrows were a little too scary or gory. Despite the complaints, the village has not had to disqualify any entries.

It wasn’t just how they were decorated that put the scare in scarecrow. Previously, the scarecrows were set up all over town, at intersections, and even along Rt. 52, much to IDOT’s dismay.

During the day, the scarecrows were a welcomed fall sight. At night, however, the unlit scarecrows looked like real people lurking in the dark, giving motorists a shock when they got closer and realized it was just the scarecrows, not people, about to enter the roadway.

IDOT eventually required the village to remove the scarecrows from easements and install them only on private property.

“This year, we decided to put them at the Wabash Park in the parking lot, so kids and families could park and walk and see them. This is safer; then, they don’t have to worry about traffic or crossing streets,” Lewis said. The parking lot is also well-lit, preventing night-time trickery.

Lewis did note the downside is that visitors and residents can’t see them around town, but the safer venue is worth it.

St. Joseph’s Catholic School decorated eight scarecrows, which they requested be displayed on the church property, which the village obliged.

Looking back, the village’s most popular year was 2015, the inaugural year, with 65 entrants. This year, there are 48. The village sees an average of 40 scarecrows decorated each year.

The inaugural year brought out some delinquents, when local 19- and 20-year-old criminals duo stole the bunker jacket off the Manhattan Fire Protection District’s entry and foolishly paraded it around Chicagoland Speedway, where firefighters recognized it. The hoodlums were caught and charged with disorderly conduct and possession of stolen property. The jacket eventually was returned to the fire department.

Luckily, the village has not experienced any nefarious activity in recent years, and the popular fall tradition continues.

“Scarecrows on Parade” will be displayed along the fence at the Wabash parking lot through November 3.

Judging occurs October 21 through 27, and prizes will be awarded at the November 4 meeting, whereupon those who entered the contest will be asked to remove scarecrows and return the frames to the village during the following week.

Stephanie Irvine is a freelance reporter.