The Wanatah Scarecrow Festival is a lively, family-friendly arts and crafts festival held annually in Wanatah, Indiana, celebrating community creativity and fall fun. The 2025 festival takes place over three days, from September 26 to 28, centered around Scarecrow Square at Main and Cross Streets in Wanatah, La Porte County. The festival grounds and events are handicapped accessible, enhancing inclusivity.

Event History and Atmosphere:
Founded in 1994, this festival has become a cherished community tradition, now in its 31st year. It fosters local pride through quirky scarecrow displays, crafts, and food offerings, creating a warm, festive autumn vibe that blends family entertainment with community spirit. The atmosphere is welcoming and engaging, suitable for all ages.

Activities and Events:
The festival offers a rich variety of activities and entertainment, including:

Scarecrow Displays: Creative scarecrow sculpting competitions and exhibits highlight community artistic expression.
Fun Runs: The Scarecrow Stampede features a 5K run and a 3K walk on Saturday morning with awards for various age groups and overall winners. Additionally, there is a Scarecrow Scamper kids’ race for younger children ages 2-9.
Parade: The main parade starts at 11:00 AM on Saturday, assembling at the Legion Post 403 parking lot, featuring floats and community groups.
Entertainment Tent: Free live shows include a performance by Ashlynn, a 14-year-old country singer, on Friday evening; bluegrass band Mountain Laurel on Saturday evening; and Kalita Magic’s family-friendly magic show on Sunday afternoon.
Food and Vendors: Various food booths offer festival fare, including a popular pork chop dinner, fish fry, and pancake breakfast. Craft vendors provide artisanal goods and local products.
Classic Car Show: Runs Saturday from 8:00 AM to 3:00 PM, showcasing vintage vehicles.
Contests and Community Fun: The Scarecrow Queen contest is Sunday afternoon, along with a Harvest Contest featuring categories like the tallest sunflower, heaviest pumpkin, and most unusual gourd.
Kids’ Activities: Craft booths, rides, and games designed for children provide additional family entertainment.
Other Community Activities: Bingo, merchant drawings, and community meals enhance the social engagement throughout the weekend.

Rough Schedule Highlights:

Friday, Sept 26

7:00 PM - 8:30 PM: Ashlynn live music in the Entertainment Tent

Saturday, Sept 27

8:00 AM: Scarecrow Stampede 5K Run / 3K Walk
9:30 AM: Scarecrow Scamper kids race (ages 2-9)
11:00 AM: Parade starts at Legion Post parking
8:00 AM - 3:00 PM: Classic Car Show
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM: Mountain Laurel bluegrass concert

Sunday, Sept 28

1:00 PM - 2:30 PM: Kalita Magic show at Entertainment Tent
1:00 PM: Scarecrow Queen Contest at Scarecrow Square

All weekend, festival-goers can enjoy craft vendors, food booths, community merchant drawings, and free entertainment scheduled throughout the day.

The festival combines traditional fall harvest themes with modern community engagement, ensuring a fun and inclusive experience for residents and visitors alike. The event serves as a vibrant gathering that promotes local talent, arts, and community bonding.

About This Festival