2023-09-20

Mahone Bay Scarecrow Festival coming up

MAHONE BAY - So you think you can bake a good pie?

The annual Mahone Bay Scarecrow and Antique Festival, that started officially in 1996, organizers have added a couple of new events, including a fruit pie baking contest, to their line-up of offerings at the event that brings thousands of people to the village.

The contest begins at noon on Sept. 30 and $1,000 worth of prizes will be awarded at 2 p.m. Right after the prizes are awarded, the public will be able to judge for themselves how good the pies are, by purchasing a slice for $5 each.

There will be three celebrity judges that will decide the top bakers who will be competing for five prizes of $100 and the grand prize of $500.

Local pie aficionados Jenna Barry of the Famous Town Pie Shop will be joined by Mike Bishop of the Barn Coffee and Social House and Great Canadian Baking Show finalist, Sachin Seth of Halifax.

"The pie contest is probably the biggest things we've done in a long time," said Sylvia Jackson, president of the Mahone Bay Scarecrow Festival Association. "Apparently, this was done in the late '90s or early 2000s and they had up to 50 entries. We're hoping for that kind of number and with that kind of prize money I think we might get it.

To join in on the fun, all you have to do is fill in a registration the Mahone Bay Scarecrow Festival Facebook page or visit Nick's Independent Grocer, The Barn, the post office or Famous Town Pie Shop.

The event will take place at the Trinity United Church, who will also host a homestyle luncheon featuring baked beans and brown bread for the adults and mac and cheese for the children, served up from noon to 2 p.m. while the pies get judged.

Another new event this year, is a comedy performance, The Rum Runner's Ball, written by Reid Campbell. This is a production that will take the audience through true stories of the prohibition in Mahone Bay.

Performances will be held Sept. 24, 30 and Oct. 1 at the Mahone Bay Centre. Tickets will be available at the door, or you can save your seat by email: ruruball@gmail.com. Suggested donation is $20.

Along with these activities and sights, there is also a scarecrow photo contest, a find-the-scarecrow scavenger hunt for the children; and a Where's Waldo contest and activities at the museum.

"This year we're also adding the, Where's Waldo, contest," said Jackson. "Waldo will move everyday. Everyday he's going to pop up in someone else's vignette. I'm very excited for that."

Antique fairs this year will be held Sept. 23 at Bayview Community School, Four Points Vintage Market and the Blockhouse Fire Hall.

As for the scarecrows there will be a lot of new ones for people to enjoy.

"Two years ago, in the midst of COVID-19, many of the volunteers who started the event were retiring. So it was decided at that point that we had many older scarecrows in our collection so they were sold off, and we started fresh last year. We mad 38 new ones last year and many more this year," said Jackson, who added that there are several still available for sale and can be seen on the Mahone Bay Scarecrow Festival and Antique Fair Facebook page.

She also said that there are many options when it comes to scarecrows.

"If you have a scarecrow, then make sure you put it out. If you want to make one, we will help you. If you want us to make one, we'll do that for you as well. You can also trade in your old scarecrow for a new one or bring it to us to upgrade," said Jackson, who added that they are always looking for volunteers if anyone is interested in helping out.

She said people have been getting real inventive with their scarecrow displays and making them more interactive each year.

She also said that the scarecrows "manufacturing facility" now has a permanent home, in the basement of the Trinity United Church, where supplies can be stored and scarecrows worked on, which Jackson said this is very much appreciated.

Scarecrows will be on display from Sept. 23 through to Oct. 9.

"In its hey day, this little village of 1,000 people would grow to about 30,000 for the festival," said Jackson. "I can hardly wait. I'm very excited to see that kind of energy back in town."