By Rebecca Adcock
The Patrick County Chamber of Commerce is promoting the second annual Scarecrow Contest.
Thousands of tourists drive through Patrick County every October. They come to visit the Blue Ridge Parkway and enjoy the fall colors. What better way to say thanks for coming, while incorporating social distancing, than with a scarecrow contest where people can see the scarecrows from their vehicles.
The sooner you start, the better chance of being the winner.
It’s free to participate in the contest. The chamber help promote individual scarecrow (and participating businesses) by using your photo on social media posts, radio advertising, via an ad in The Enterprise, an online gallery, and a voting poll.
The first step is to gather your ideas and materials.
Need some inspiration? Here are a few ideas to get you started:
For a basic design, use some old clothes and a fun T-shirt. Stuff it with hay and call it a day.
To step it up a bit, create a theme that matches your business. For example, ‘Waiter Scarecrow’ for your restaurant, or wrap it up with gauze to make a ‘Mummy Day-at-the-Spa Scarecrow.’ Scarecrows should be easily visible from outside the business. They can be in a window or placed outside by the door.
For an advanced design, team up with your neighbors, create a theme, make a whole scene with scarecrows. Encourage your patrons to visit each location to take photos of all your scarecrows.
The second step is to register your scarecrow online by taking a photo in front of your business. It’s easy and FREE to participate. The third step is to promote your creation by posting, sharing and making it go viral.
Encourage others to participate so there will be an army of scarecrows to. The more entries, the more visitors will be attracted to visit your shop or business.
Winners will be selected based on the number of votes and activity October 1 – 31.
(Adcock is the executive director of the Patrick County Chamber of Commerce.)