Unique Display of Scarecrows Runs Entire Month of October in Cambria, CA
The Cambria Scarecrow Festival, Inc. returns in October for its eleventh season in the California seaside communities of Cambria and San Simeon. Scarecrows will be on free public display throughout October. In addition, an OctoberFest set of activities occurs Saturday, October 19, on the town’s Pinedorado Grounds.
More than 400 unique creations are expected to line the main streets of these two towns, including a variety of traditional, animated and unique scarecrows. Each year, local students, residents and businesses construct fanciful and whimsical creations to celebrate local creativity. Planned highlights of this year’s displays include a zombie wedding and a Day of the Dead celebration.
Most scarecrows will be placed on display during the weekend of September 29. In general, all scarecrows will be removed on Friday, November 1.
As part of the month’s festivities, the Festival and Lion’s Club of Cambria are jointly sponsoring OctoberFest, Saturday, October 19, 11:30 am to 5 pm. On the town’s Pinedorado fairgrounds, visitors can enjoy brats, beer, wine, and local ice cream. Live music, an art and crafts fair, special scarecrows displays and more will make for a fun day. Admission is free; food and drink is charged separately. In addition, the winners of this year’s scarecrow competition will be announced during OctoberFest from the Pinedorado stage at 11:30 am.
The Festival will also host a special fundraiser on Saturday, September 28, beginning at 4 pm. Its Game Day at the Ocean features wine, food, music and a fun interactive game on a five-acre estate on the seaside just north of Cambria. Tickets are $47 and benefit the Festival installation activities.
More details and tickets for both OctoberFest and Game Day can be found at www.cambriascarecrows.com/events.
Whether you visit during the opening weekend or any day in October, the Scarecrow Festival is a great way to experience two of the most charming towns along the Central Coast. Plenty of local inns provide many opportunities to make it an overnight stay; scores of restaurants, shops, hiking trails, wineries and more offer ample ways to enjoy your time.
