Wanatah’s 31st Annual Scarecrow Festival
When: Friday–Sunday, September 26–28, 2025
Where: Scarecrow Square, Wanatah, Indiana
Celebrate autumn in style at the Wanatah Scarecrow Festival, a heartwarming town tradition since 1994. This spirited community event is brimming with creative scarecrow displays, vendor-lined streets, delicious food, and free, family-friendly fun for all ages.
Featured Highlights:
Harvest Contest & Community Meals (Friday): Kick off the weekend with a festive Harvest Contest followed by a community pork chop dinner and flag-raising ceremony.
Fun-Filled Saturday: Start with the Scarecrow Stampede 5K Run/3K Walk and Scarecrow Scamper for little ones, enjoy Hot Wheels racing, explore the car show, parade, gaming truck, Cutest Baby Contest, and more. Wrap up the day with bluegrass melodies from Mountain Laurel in the Entertainment Tent.
Sunday Delights: Join a pancake breakfast, church service, live wildlife demo from Humane Indiana, Homemade Jam band, Kalita’s Magic show, and raffle drawings to support local groups, all concluding with closing ceremonies.
Entertainment Tent Schedule:
Friday (Sept 26): Ashlynn, a talented 14-year-old country singer, hits the stage at 7:00 PM
Saturday (Sept 27): Mountain Laurel performs bluegrass/gospel hits at 7:00 PM; plus nightly merchant raffles at 8:30 PM
Sunday (Sept 28): A non-denominational church service (10:00 AM), wildlife show, Homemade Jam, and Kalita’s Magic (1:00–2:30 PM) keep the fun rolling, followed by a fire-dept raffle and final merchant raffle
Additional Info:
Parking: Complimentary spots around the town, with extra spaces near the rail tracks, Legion, and school areas; no shuttle service - bring comfy shoes.
Food & Vendors: Over 20 vendors, including community-style meals and classic fair fare like kettle corn and lemonade. Cash is recommended as not all accept cards
Accessibility & Safety: Pets are not permitted (except service animals), and prohibited items include weapons, alcohol (in tents), golf carts, and silly string/laser pointers.