The festival offers many opportunities for students, faculty, the community and the Center. It allows ISU horticulture and agriculture students to engage in alternative agriculture, and also provides opportunities to build relationships throughout the community as several businesses or groups have offered to participate at the event. The event also serves as a fundraiser for the Horticulture Center as it sells many of the fall amenities it has grown this past season. Those include over 60 varieties of pumpkins, gourds, and squash as well as mums, and corn stalks.
This year the public will be able to park on either the west or east side of the Center. The pumpkin patch and corn maze are located on the west side. Activity tent, Scarecrows on Parade, all the gardens including the Children's Garden and the food stand will be located on the east side.
Parents: the Horticulture Center has some rough terrain. Wagons and strollers may be difficult to push or pull at times. Back or front packs are highly recommended. There is also a short walk to the pumpkin patch and to the activity site from the parking area.
There will be a $2.00 entrance fee for ages 13 and up, $1.00 fee for ages 3 to 13, and age 3 and under is free. There is also a $1 fee per ride on the hay rides.
9am - noon: There will be free children's activities under the big white tent. These activities are sponsored by the Children's Discovery Museum, the Ecology Action Center, the Normal Public Library's Children's Department, University of Illinois Extension McLean County Master Gardeners, and the ISU Horticulture Center.
This exhibition of original, one- of-a kind scarecrows is an opportunity for local businesses, organizations, university departments, individuals or families to showcase their own unique work or talent while at the same time capturing the flavor of the autumn season in central Illinois.
“Scarecrows on Parade” is a fundraiser for the Children’s Garden at the Horticulture Center. Scarecrows will be auctioned off in a silent auction process from 9am-2pm. Scarecrows may then be taken home by the highest bidder and used as autumnal decoration in their own yards!
Food and drink will be available throughout the day on the eastside.
Please contact us (see home page) with any questions regarding the festival. See you on October 1st!