St. Charles, IL Scarecrow Weekend: What to See, Do & Know in 2026
October 9–11, 2026 | Downtown St. Charles, Illinois
If you're looking for things to do in St. Charles, IL this fall, Scarecrow Weekend is one local tradition worth adding to your calendar. For three days each October, downtown St. Charles comes alive with handcrafted scarecrows, family-friendly activities, live entertainment, fall food, local shopping, art, and events throughout the community.
The 41st Annual St. Charles Scarecrow Weekend takes place Friday, October 9 through Sunday, October 11, 2026. The event is free to attend and brings more than 120 handcrafted scarecrows to downtown St. Charles, where visitors can explore the displays, vote for their favorites, enjoy activities for all ages, and experience the city's downtown and Fox River setting along the way.
Whether you're visiting St. Charles for the first time, looking for a family-friendly fall activity near Chicago, or simply want to spend an autumn weekend exploring downtown, here's what to know before you go.
St. Charles Scarecrow Weekend 2026 Event Details
Dates: October 9–11, 2026
Location: Downtown St. Charles, Illinois
Hours:
Friday, October 9: 12:00 PM–6:00 PM
Saturday, October 10: 10:00 AM–6:00 PM
Sunday, October 11: 10:00 AM–5:00 PM
Scarecrow Weekend is spread throughout downtown St. Charles rather than being contained in one location. The main areas include Lincoln Park, Riverside Avenue, 1st Street Plaza, the Municipal Building, and Pottawatomie Park, making it easy to turn the festival into a full day of exploring.
The event's centerpiece is the Scarecrow Contest, with 120+ handcrafted scarecrows displayed throughout downtown. Along the way, visitors can enjoy family activities, live entertainment, food and drinks, shopping, the Autumn on the Fox Art & Craft Show, and seasonal activities hosted by local businesses and organizations.
[Visit the official Scarecrow Weekend website for the event brochure, complete schedule, and current event information.]
What Is St. Charles Scarecrow Weekend?
Scarecrow Weekend is an annual fall festival in downtown St. Charles that has been a community tradition since 1985. What began with just 39 scarecrows and an estimated 10,000 visitors has grown into a three-day celebration that welcomes more than 80,000 visitors and features more than 120 unique scarecrows.
The event brings together local businesses, schools, nonprofit organizations, community groups, families, and individual creators. Each scarecrow adds something different to the downtown landscape, making the festival as much about creativity and community participation as it is about fall entertainment.
And there is plenty to do beyond looking at scarecrows.
From pumpkin painting and magic shows to live music, photo opportunities, local food, shopping, and an art and craft show along the Fox River, Scarecrow Weekend offers activities for a wide range of ages and interests.
Family Zone at Lincoln Park
Location: Lincoln Park, 450 W. Main St., St. Charles, IL
If you're visiting Scarecrow Weekend with children, the Family Zone in Lincoln Park is a great place to start.
The area serves as one of the main hubs of the festival, with family-friendly activities, live entertainment, community performances, family fun booths, and plenty of scarecrows to explore.
Families can expect activities and entertainment such as:
Pumpkin bowling and games
Face painting and kids' crafts
Family fun booths
Giveaways and free samples
Live music
Community performances
Dance teams
Magic shows
Roaming entertainment
Character appearances
Photo opportunities
More than 120 scarecrows throughout the festival areas
The Family Zone is also one of the locations where visitors can see scarecrows entered in the Business and Mechanical/Mega categories of the Scarecrow Contest.
For families, this part of the festival captures one of the things that makes St. Charles such a popular community for local events: there is plenty happening, but it still feels centered around spending time together.
Activity Zone on Riverside Avenue
Location: Riverside Avenue between Main Street and Illinois Avenue
Continue toward Riverside Avenue and you'll find the Activity Zone, another central area for family-friendly activities during Scarecrow Weekend.
This area brings together hands-on activities, seasonal entertainment, family fun booths, food vendors, and some of the festival's most festive photo opportunities.
Activities include:
Scarecrow-to-Go kits
Pumpkin painting
Inflatable corn maze
Rock climbing wall
Professional pumpkin carving
Magic shows
Live DJ
Face painting
Festive photo opportunities
Family fun booths
Games and giveaways
Community organization booths
Additional family-friendly entertainment
Scarecrow-to-Go is a fun option if you want to bring a little bit of Scarecrow Weekend home with you. The kits are $15 and include the materials needed to create your own scarecrow, including pantyhose, twine, an outfit, straw, and directions. Proceeds benefit Scouting America Troop 60.
The Activity Zone is also home to the Club/Not-for-Profit/School category of the Scarecrow Contest, so be sure to look around as you explore the activities and booths.
1st Street Plaza: Live Music & Downtown Entertainment
Location: 29 S. 1st St., St. Charles, IL
For live entertainment in the heart of downtown, make your way to the 1st Street Plaza.
Throughout Scarecrow Weekend, the plaza features live music from local artists and provides a place to take a break, listen to music, and enjoy the fall atmosphere. Visitors can also explore the individual scarecrow entries displayed along 1st Street.
Additional activities include:
Live music
Trunk or Treat
Character appearances
Photo opportunities
Face painting and tattoos
Balloon art
Scarecrow displays
The 1st Street Plaza is also surrounded by downtown shops, restaurants, cafés, and access to the Fox River area, making it an easy stop while exploring more of downtown St. Charles.
Don't forget to look for the Individual scarecrow contest entries along 1st Street while you're there.
Municipal Building: Scarecrow-to-Go, T-Shirts & More
Location: St. Charles Municipal Building, 2 E. Main St., St. Charles, IL
The Municipal Building is another useful stop during Scarecrow Weekend, particularly if you want to pick up information, grab a festival keepsake, or make your own scarecrow.
Activities at the Municipal Building include:
Scarecrow-to-Go
Official Scarecrow Weekend T-shirts
Information booth
Free ice cream from Colonial Cafe
Jurassic Park replica vehicles
Additional family-friendly activities
The Colonial Cafe Kitchen Sink Truck will be located in the front Municipal Building parking lot and will offer free scoops of ice cream during designated times:
Friday: 4:00–6:00 PM
Saturday: 11:30 AM–1:00 PM
Sunday: 1:00–3:00 PM
The available flavors are Chocolate Chip, Mint Chip, and Vanilla.
Official Scarecrow Weekend T-shirts will also be available from The Hairy Ant Screenprinting & Embroidery while supplies last.
If you're looking for the information booths during the festival, the Municipal Building is also one of the locations where you can pick up and return physical Scarecrow Contest ballots.
Food & Drinks During Scarecrow Weekend
One of the easiest ways to make a day of Scarecrow Weekend is to plan a few food stops along the way.
Food is available throughout the festival, including vendors in Lincoln Park, Riverside Avenue, the Municipal Building area, and participating downtown businesses.
Lincoln Park Family Zone
Food options include:
Just Kabobs
Chicken or pork kabobs with pita
Gyro sandwiches
Hot dogs
Baklava
Chocolate chip cookies
Soda and water
Taco Urbano
Chicken or beef tacos
Nachos
Marshmallow treats
Soda and water
Kimmer's Ice Cream
Kimmer's will be serving ice cream in Lincoln Park:
Saturday: 10:00 AM–1:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM–5:00 PM
Riverside Avenue Activity Zone
Food and fall treats include:
Windy Acres Farm
Donuts
Apple cider
Honey
Other seasonal treats
Arcada Theatre
Pizza
Pretzels
Soda and water
Franklins Hot Dogs
Hot dogs
Brats
Chips
Soda and water
The official event information also notes that visitors can find additional handheld and grab-and-go options from participating downtown businesses, as well as food trucks at the Autumn on the Fox Art & Craft Show.
And because so much of Scarecrow Weekend takes place throughout downtown, it's easy to make a stop at one of St. Charles' restaurants, coffee shops, breweries, or local businesses while you're exploring.
Scarecrow Contest: Don't Forget to Vote
The Scarecrow Contest is the centerpiece of Scarecrow Weekend, with more than 120 handcrafted scarecrows displayed throughout downtown St. Charles. Visitors can explore the different areas of the festival and vote for their favorites.
There are four categories:
1. Business
Location: Lincoln Park Family Zone
Local businesses create their own scarecrow entries, making this category especially fun to explore as you walk through the Family Zone.
2. Individual
Location: 1st Street
These entries are created by individual participants and families and are displayed along 1st Street.
3. Club / Not-for-Profit / School
Location: Riverside Avenue Activity Zone
Local schools, nonprofit organizations, clubs, and community groups participate in this category.
4. Mechanical / Mega
Location: Lincoln Park Family Zone
These larger and mechanical entries bring another level of creativity to the competition.
How to Vote
Voting begins Friday at 12:00 PM and closes Sunday at 5:00 PM.
Visitors can vote in two ways:
By paper ballot: Pick up a voting sheet at an information booth in the Family Zone or near the Municipal Building. Completed ballots can be returned to an information booth or the ballot box on 1st Street.
Through the Travel St. Charles app: Visitors can also vote digitally through the Travel St. Charles app. The official voting instructions require location and camera permissions to be enabled for the app voting process.
Each person can submit one vote per category.
As you walk around downtown, take your time looking at the entries. Part of the fun is seeing how differently each business, family, school, or organization interprets the scarecrow theme.
Autumn on the Fox Art & Craft Show
Location: Pottawatomie Park, 8 North Ave., St. Charles, IL
Scarecrow Weekend extends beyond downtown with the Autumn on the Fox Art & Craft Show at Pottawatomie Park.
Set along the Fox River, the show brings together more than 100 artists and crafters from across the Midwest. It's a great addition to your Scarecrow Weekend itinerary if you enjoy shopping for handmade goods, seasonal décor, or one-of-a-kind gifts.
You can browse a variety of handmade work, including:
Jewelry
Stained glass
Photography
Woodworking
Ceramics
Metal art
Seasonal décor
Other handcrafted goods
2026 Craft Show Hours:
Friday: 10:00 AM–5:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM–5:00 PM
Sunday: 10:00 AM–4:00 PM
The Fox River setting makes this a particularly scenic part of the weekend and gives visitors another opportunity to experience one of the natural features that helps define St. Charles.
Explore Downtown St. Charles While You're Here
One of the best things about Scarecrow Weekend is that you don't have to stay in one place.
The event gives visitors a reason to walk through downtown St. Charles, explore local businesses, stop for food or coffee, listen to live music, and spend time near the Fox River.
Local businesses throughout downtown participate with specials, food and drink options, shopping opportunities, and other activities during the weekend. Rather than feeling like a festival isolated from the rest of the city, Scarecrow Weekend becomes part of the downtown experience.
That makes it easy to turn a few hours at the festival into an entire fall day in St. Charles.
Why Scarecrow Weekend Is a St. Charles Tradition
Scarecrow Weekend has been part of St. Charles since 1985, and its growth reflects the community's enthusiasm for bringing people together.
What started as a small fall festival has become one of the city's signature annual events, attracting more than 80,000 visitors and featuring more than 120 scarecrows throughout downtown.
But the appeal goes beyond the numbers.
There is something distinctly local about walking through downtown and seeing businesses, schools, families, nonprofits, and community organizations represented throughout the festival. The event encourages people to slow down, explore the city, support local businesses, and spend time together.
For visitors who are considering St. Charles as a place to live, Scarecrow Weekend also offers a glimpse into the community beyond its homes and neighborhoods. It's an opportunity to experience the downtown, Fox River, local businesses, parks, restaurants, and the community events that residents enjoy throughout the year.
Planning Your Visit to Scarecrow Weekend
If you're planning to attend the 2026 St. Charles Scarecrow Weekend, here are a few things to keep in mind:
Give yourself time to explore. The event covers several areas throughout downtown, so don't plan to see everything in a quick stop.
Wear comfortable shoes. You'll likely be doing plenty of walking between Lincoln Park, Riverside Avenue, 1st Street, the Municipal Building, and downtown businesses.
Bring the kids. Many activities are specifically designed for families, including pumpkin painting, magic shows, the inflatable corn maze, rock climbing, photo opportunities, and more.
Make time for the scarecrows. The Scarecrow Contest is the heart of the event, and the displays are spread across several areas.
Plan a food stop. Food vendors are located throughout the festival, and downtown St. Charles offers additional options.
Visit Pottawatomie Park. The Autumn on the Fox Art & Craft Show is another highlight of the weekend and offers more than 100 vendors along the Fox River.
Check the official schedule before you go. Activities, vendors, entertainment, and times can change, so visit the official Scarecrow Weekend website for the most current information.
Experience Fall in St. Charles, Illinois
Scarecrow Weekend is one of those St. Charles traditions that gives visitors a chance to experience the community rather than simply pass through it.
You can spend the morning looking at handcrafted scarecrows, grab lunch downtown, let the kids enjoy the Family and Activity Zones, listen to live music at 1st Street Plaza, shop at Autumn on the Fox, and finish the day walking along the Fox River.
It's a weekend that brings together many of the things people appreciate about St. Charles: a walkable downtown, local businesses, community events, the Fox River, parks, restaurants, and a strong sense of community.
And if you're already considering a move to St. Charles, attending an event like Scarecrow Weekend can be a great way to get a feel for what everyday life in the community can look like.
For more fun things to do in St. Charles, check out our blog post on Things To Do In And Around St. Charles, IL!
Discover Life in St. Charles With The McKay Group
At The McKay Group, we believe getting to know a community is an important part of finding the right home.
For more than 25 years, our team, led by top-producing agents Debora McKay and Roger Erikson, has helped buyers and sellers navigate the local real estate market throughout the Fox Valley, including St. Charles, Geneva, Batavia, Elgin/South Elgin, Elburn, Wayne. That experience goes beyond understanding homes for sale. It means knowing the neighborhoods, schools, parks, downtown districts, local businesses, and community traditions that help make each area unique.
Scarecrow Weekend is just one example of the community events that make St. Charles such a special place to call home. Throughout the year, residents can enjoy festivals, concerts, farmers markets, art shows, recreational opportunities, restaurants, shopping, and the Fox River.
If you're considering buying a home in St. Charles, IL, we would be happy to help you learn more about the neighborhoods, homes, schools, and lifestyle throughout the community.
→Explore Homes for Sale in St. Charles, IL and discover what life here could look like.
Happy Scarecrow Weekend! See You There!
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