Scarecrow Trail Contest Registration Begins

Note:  Voting app, and scarecrow register link coming soon. 

Scarecrow Trail and Fall Festival

Important Dates and Information:

To participate in the 2025 Scarecrow Trail and to ensure official approval of your entry, you must register no later than 5:00pm on Wednesday, October 1^st, 2025. Registration is limited to 25 participants. Once registration is full, those interested in participating may email kathryn.jeffers@msstate.edu to be added to the waitlist.

ALL scarecrow entries must be installed Thursday, October 2^nd, 2025 (9am – 4pm), Friday, October 3^rd, 2025 (9am – 4pm) and /or Saturday, October 4^th, 2025 (9am – 4pm). There will be no scarecrow entry set up after these dates and times. Scarecrow sites are assigned by lottery. When participants arrive at the arboretum to install scarecrows, they should proceed to the visitors center to sign in and receive a randomly assigned number. All scarecrow entries must be removed by participants following the conclusion of the Crosby Arboretum Fall Festival on Sunday, October 26^th, 2025 (4:30pm – 6pm), or on Monday/Tuesday, October 27^th -28^th (9am – 4pm). Any entries that remain as of Wednesday, October 29^th, 2025, will be removed and disposed of by the Crosby Arboretum staff.             

   General Rules for Entry in the Scarecrow Trail

1. Individuals (18+ years of age) or groups may enter a scarecrow in the Scarecrow Trail. Examples of groups participants may include youth groups, adult groups, civic organizations, community groups, school groups, school classes, church groups, businesses, or families.
2. The contest is limited to one entry per person or group. There is no fee to enter. Registration is required.
3. Scarecrows should be created using recycled and repurposed household materials as much as possible. Rubber, plastic and/or store-bought masks are NOT allowed. Hazardous materials are prohibited, including tiki torches, candles, sharp objects, diesel or gas-powered generators or any other flammable items.
4. Scarecrows must be designed for outdoor display and constructed to withstand all weather conditions. They must be firmly packed and/or tied down. Participants should avoid using carboard or paper that is not properly sealed or waterproofed. It is strongly recommended that scarecrow exhibit materials are secured together by ties or other hardware because adhesives, such as hot glue and super glue may fail when exposed to outdoor elements such as heat, humidity, rain, and high winds. If fresh produce such as fruits, vegetables, herbs or flowering plants are used, participants should monitor and replace as necessary. Participants must display, inspect, and maintain their scarecrows throughout the entire length of the Scarecrow Trail event through to the Fall Festival, a period of about three weeks; however major changes to the scarecrow after the initial entry are not allowed.
5. Scarecrows must be designed to either stand or sit on its own props, which must be provided by the participants. Scarecrows may NOT be propped against or fastened to arboretum fixtures, benches, trees, shrubs, or any other landscape features.
6. Scarecrows must not be taller than 8 feet and must fit into a space no larger than 25 square feet (5’ x 5’). Participants must place their scarecrow and all related props and support materials in the assigned site. This requirement will be strictly enforced to ensure safe access to the trails for all visitors for the duration of the event.
7. Scarecrows and their components must be transported to their designated sites via carts, wagons, and/or dollies. NO vehicles are permitted on the arboretum trails. The Crosby Arboretum will have garden carts and wagons for participants to use on a first come first served basis.
8. When planning and designing your scarecrow, please remember that the Scarecrow Trail and Fall Festival are for children of all ages. Scarecrows can be funny, scary, or quirky but they MUST be in good taste. Absolutely NO violent themes, offensive, crude, or derogatory components will be permitted. Scarecrows that reflect controversial, political, or religious themes are NOT permitted. The Crosby Arboretum, at its sole discretion, reserves the right to reject or remove any entry that fails to meet these standards.
9. All entries should be labeled with a sign no larger than 11’’x 17’’ and should reflect the name of the entrant or group as well as the scarecrow, if different. Scarecrow names are subject to the prior review and/or approval of the Crosby Arboretum staff and may not reflect any political or religious statements or connotations, nor any offensive, crude, discriminatory, or derogatory terms or expressions. Businesses and organizations may include the use of a company name; however, no handouts, promotional materials, advertisements, or giveaways may be associated with the entry until the Fall Festival event day and after all voting has taken place.
10. The Crosby Arboretum may, at its sole discretion, make minor repairs, replacements and/or adjustments to a scarecrow if the scope of activity does not alter the scarecrow. Even so, participants remain responsible for ensuring that their scarecrow remains intact, presentable, and properly installed. Any entry deemed to be in poor condition or improperly maintained may be removed at the discretion of the Crosby Arboretum staff.
11. The Crosby Arboretum is not responsible for any damage to, or loss associated with scarecrows or any decorative items or components that may be installed at a scarecrow site.
12. All scarecrows in the contest will be judged by category based on popular votes made by visitors to the Crosby Arboretum during the Scarecrow Trail and Fall Festival. Categories include Business, School, Organization (civic/community group), Individual, Family, and Church. Each entry will be judged against entries in the same category and placed according to the total number of votes received.
13. The voting period for the Crosby Arboretum Scarecrow Trail will be from 9am on October 5^th, 2025, through noon on October 26^th, 2025. Votes will be cast electronically at www.crosbyarboretum.msstate.edu and voting is open to the public. All judging is final. Winners will be announced for 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd place in each category based on the number of votes cast during the voting period.
14. Additional recognition may be given for scarecrows that best reflect the mission of environmental stewardship or merit recognition for design/materials excellence as determined solely at the discretion of the Crosby Arboretum. Winners will be announced as part of the Fall Festival on Sunday, October 26^th, 2025, at 2pm.
15. Names of winners and participants as well as images from the contest may be posted on the Crosby Arboretum’s website or used in publicity or promotional materials for the Scarecrow Trail and Fall Festival. By participating, entrants release and waive any rights to or interest in any images, recordings, or likenesses and grant the Crosby Arboretum the right to use any images, recordings, or likenesses related to or including participant’s scarecrow entry at the Crosby Arboretum without compensation to the participant(s).

Please use this link to sign up for the scarecrow contest:  https://reg.extension.msstate.edu/reg/event_page.aspx?ek=0081-0004-b490d441b2254638b4b8fdeb6fae780a

No Credit Card or Cash refunds for Cancelations, The Crosby Arboretum will issue a gift card as a refund please email s.lowe@msstate.edu. 

Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity institution. The Mississippi State University Extension Service will provide reasonable accommodation to persons with disabilities or special needs. Please contact The Crosby Arboretum office at 601-799-2311 Ext. 0, or barb.medlock@msstate.edu or kathyn.jeffers@msstate.edu prior to a program or event to request reasonable accommodation.

If you have issues registering or accessing an online course, please contact the Extension Center for Technology Outreach at (662) 325-3226 Monday – Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.