Use your imagination and creativity to enter a scarecrow in our 2012 Scarecrows in the Garden Contest! Registration open until Monday, Sept. 24, 2012.

Enter our "Scarecrows in the Garden" Contest and showcase your hand-crafted scarecrow. Historical, ghoulish, or traditional, all scarecrows will be displayed on the grounds of the Hampton-Preston Mansion from September 30 - October 31. The contest is open to individuals, families, businesses, school classrooms and organizations. Be sure to sign up for the Weekend Scarecrow Workshop on Saturday, September 22 or pick up a to-go Scarecrow kit!  Materials provided in the workshop / to-go kit: hay, PVC piping, string, and other items. 

Participants are welcome to enter more than one scarecrow. Community leaders and local celebrities will select the best scarecrow and the public is encouraged to vote for the "People's Choice Award" and "Best Class Crow".

Prizes include cash, awards and tour passes.  Participants also receive complementary tickets (2 for Family and Class entries, 4 for Business and Organization entries) to the Opening Reception and Family Day events.

For questions about the contest and weekend workshop call 803.252.1770 ext 24 or email reservations@historiccolumbia.org. 

Scarecrows in the Garden events are sponsored by Palmetto Parent. 

Scarecrows in the Garden Highlights

Scarecrows will be on exhibit at the Hampton Preston Mansion and Gardens throughout the month of October. Entry forms are available at the Museum Shop on the grounds of the Robert Mills House, 1616 Blanding Street, during regular hours of operation, Tues. through Fri., 10:00a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Forms are also available for download at www.HistoricColumbia.org. Cast your vote for the “People’s Choice” and “Class Crow” awards in the Museum Shop or on our Facebook page until Noon on October 27th. Prizes will be presented on October 27th during the Family Day event which is free to exhibitors. Business entrants will receive 4 tickets and family entrants will receive 2 tickets to the Opening Reception and Awards ceremony. Additional exhibitor tickets to the Reception are $5.00 for adults and $3.00 for children (6-12 years old). (See Key Dates) The prizes are as follows: Two categories of Winners; Business/Organization and Families. In each category there will be an Overall

Winner who will receive $50, four free Historic Haunting passes, and an award. The Runner-up in each category will receive $25, two free Historic Haunting passes, and an award. There will be a special prize for the “People’s Choice” and a pizza party for the Class Crow winners. These prizes will be announced at the Family Day event on Saturday, October 27th. There is no admission fee to view Scarecrows in the Garden; it is open to the public.

Key Dates

Registration due: Entry forms are due on September 24th, 2012 by 5:00 p.m. (call or email for availability after this date)

Weekend Workshop: September 22 from 12:00pm– 2:00pm. The fee for non-members is $20 and $15 for members to create each Scarecrow. Materials provided in workshop: hay, PVC pipe, string, and some clothing and accessories. Participants should bring items from home to personalize their scarecrow. Scarecrows may be taken home or for an additional charge of $5 entered into the contest. *Workshop is not required for participation, you may create scarecrows at home.

Scarecrow drop off: Sunday, September 23 from 1:00-5:00pm and Monday, September 24th from 9:00am to 5:00pm. Please pin a business card or note to your scarecrow with your name and your scarecrow’s name.

Opening Event: Opening Reception and awards will take place on Sunday, September 30th from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The reception includes light appetizers, beverages, crafts and games for the entire family. For $1 you can take our House in Mourning tour inside the Hampton-Preston Mansion.

Prize Presentation: Our guest judges will cast their votes opening day and overall winners will be announced at 4:00pm. Visitors can cast their vote for the “People’s Choice “ and “Class Crow” awards through noon, on October 27th. These winners will be announced at 1:30pm on Sat., October 27th during our Family Day activities.

Family Day: Family Day will be held Saturday, October 27th from noon-2:00pm. Votes can be cast for “People’s Choice” and “Class Crow” until noon and prizes will be presented at 1:30pm. Other activities include fall themed games and history about fall traditions. This event is FREE for exhibitors.

Scarecrow pick up: November 1st– 4th. Scarecrows not picked up by 5:00pm on Sunday, November 4th will be discarded. Please consider pick up a “salvage opportunity”. (Please do not pick up scarecrows prior to Oct. 31st.)

Pick up/drop off location: Historic Columbia Foundation, Robert Mills Carriage House, 1616 Blanding Street. The Carriage House is located on Henderson Street between Taylor and Blanding Streets.

Guidelines & Entry Rules

Anyone can enter! Families, community groups, small businesses, and individuals are all welcome to participate. All bases must be capable of supporting the scarecrow in a freestanding/staked manner. It is permissible to support your scarecrow by a shepherd’s hook. An easy way to build your scarecrow is to use a hollow one- inch PVC pipe. Historic Columbia reserves the right to remove any scarecrow that deteriorates to an unacceptable level during the month. Please make your submissions as weather-proof and indestructible as possible! Please do not include live plant material with your display. Historic Columbia is not responsible for loss or damage to scarecrows. Historic Columbia will provide signage identifying you or your organization and the name of your scarecrow. Please do not include any signage or flyers with your scarecrow. Historic Columbia will install all scarecrows. There is limited display space for seated scarecrows. All seated spaces must be reserved ahead by calling 252-1770 x 24. Historic Columbia reserves the right to use photographs, contact names, and scarecrow names for publicity purposes. Entries must be suitable for viewing by small children. Entries reflecting controversial, political, and social subject matter or is in poor taste for family viewing will not be accepted.