Photos by Connie Pendleton
Celebrate creativity, community, and fall fun at the annual Cambria Scarecrow Festival throughout October.
Since its debut in 2009, the festival has grown from just 30 scarecrows into a beloved month-long event featuring over 200 handcrafted creations. Locals and visitors can explore the scarecrows throughout Cambria Village, along Moonstone Drive, and on Castillo and Hearst Drive in San Simeon.
Returning this year is the “Fantastical Cove” display — a collection of mystical creatures, a unicorn, sea serpent and colorful mushrooms and gnomes along with the “Crowchella’ display — a star-studded musical experience featuring the KISS band members, Sunny and Sher, Taylor, and Ozzie, the Prince of Darkness, just to name a few. “PJ’s in the Patch” brand-new sleep-themed display in San Simeon will showcase bedtime storytelling, a granny pillow fight, an overnight camping adventure and more.
“The Scarecrow Festival is truly a labor of love created by an incredible team of volunteers, artists, and community supporters,” said Shelley Holden, president of the Cambria Scarecrow Festival. “Every year we look forward to surprising visitors with new scarecrows and displays while bringing back some of the characters people have grown to love.”
The Cambria Scarecrow Festival continues to be a community-driven event, made possible by the generosity of local residents and businesses. Through the Friends of the Cambria Scarecrow Festival Program, individuals and organizations can make tax-deductible donations and even adopt a scarecrow.
“The Friends Program gives businesses and individuals a fun and meaningful way to support the festival and become part of the experience,” said Patty Wallace Rixman. “It’s wonderful to see the community come together each year to help keep this tradition growing.”
Donations support the creativity and growth of this unique event and can be made online at Friends of the Cambria Scarecrow Festival Program.
