Come Saturday afternoon, crows will want to steer clear of downtown Jaffrey.
The 19th annual Scarecrows on the Common, held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., is one of the biggest fundraisers of the year for TEAM Jaffrey, and will see hundreds of people gather to stuff, clothe and accessorize their best version of a scarecrow to be placed along Main Street and the common for the better part of October.
“After all our expenses, we don’t make a lot of money, maybe a couple thousand,” said TEAM Jaffrey Executive Director Stephanie Porter. “But it’s really more of a town pride community event.”
Porter said about 200 scarecrows were made last year and if the weather holds out, she expects that number to be met – and hopefully surpassed.
For $5, people will get just about everything they need. The local Boy Scouts construct the crosses, thanks to the donation of lumber from Belletetes. The hay comes from Murdock Farm in Winchendon, Massachusetts and Jaffrey-Rindge Rotary members help out in the hay put. Porter said a lot of clothing has been donated over the years so there’s plenty to go around, but if people want a specific look, they’re more than welcome to bring their own.
“We always seem to have plenty,” Porter said.
If folks want to bring their scarecrows home at the end of the day, the fee is $10 or they can come back and pick them up before the morning of Oct. 26.
While scarecrows are the main attraction, there’s plenty going on to enjoy a full day around downtown. There will be pumpkin painting for $1 using pumpkins grown by Sawyer Farm, a touch-a-truck exhibit with police and fire vehicles, as well as an ambulance and weather permitting, a bucket truck from Eversource.
The 4-H exhibit will include animals, a cider press and doughnuts for sale. New this year is the pumpkin pie baking contest, where participants pay $5 and put their best fall dessert up against the competition for the chance to take home the soon-to-be coveted pie cutter handcrafted by Lavoie’s Custom Wood Products in Milford. After the contest, slices will be sold.
“People can wait till the last minute and just show up with a pie,” Porter said.
Add in hayrides, concessions and vendors and it makes for a nice family-friendly afternoon.
But unlike in year’s past when the fun would end in the late afternoon, the event committee made the decision to add an evening Oktoberfest to the schedule from 4 to 8 p.m. at the American Legion Post 11.
“We seem to be more geared toward young families, but we need to get more into those in their 20s and 30s age group and branch out to everyone,” Porter said.
In addition to tastings from Sam Adams and Harpoon, there will be a stein hoisting contest, live music courtesy of Speed Bumps and fireworks to cap off the evening.
Cost for beer tastings is $15 for an individual, $25 for two. For those not interested in beer tasting, there is no admission charge and there will be plenty of food to choose from five area food trucks. Children are free.
“This is something we’re hoping will make money for TEAM Jaffrey and the Legion,” Porter said.
For more information, call 532-7168, email teamjaffrey@myfairpoint.net or visit www.teamjaffrey.org.