Scarecrow festival set for Sept. 17 in Akron

The GFWC/Friendship & Service Club of Akron, IA will host its annual Great Akron Scarecrow Festival and Contest in the Akron City Park on Saturday, Sept. 17. The event opens to the public at 10 a.m. and will last until approximately 4 p.m.

Sue Higman (left) and Shirley Nelson, organizers of the 2011 Great Akron Scarecrow Festival & Contest, pose with a few of the decorative creations that soon will adorn the Akron community and help raise money for the construction of a new care center. (Photo by David Lias)

A number of activities for all ages are being planned, but the primary purpose of the event is the celebration of scarecrows. According to the Friendship & Service Club, everyone is welcome to create a scarecrow and enter it into a contest. Scarecrow judging starts at 10 a.m., with prizes awarded at noon. At 2 p.m., the scarecrows will be sold at auction.

The day will include over 40 crafters, and offer kids games, a petting zoo, a jumping cage, cow-pie lottery, face painting and other entertainment and a chain saw artist.

The Akron Firemens steak fry will be held Sept. 17, beginning at 5 p.m. at the fire station.

All proceeds from the days activities will go toward funding community projects in Akron, with an emphasis on providing needed revenue for the construction of a new care center in the community.

For more information, contact Sue Higman at (712) 568-2852.