Lubenham Scarecrow Festival 2024: A Fun Weekend for All Ages

We had a great time at the Lubenham Scarecrow Festival on the weekend of the 7th and 8th of September. This popular event has been a regular fixture in the local community for over twenty years, and it draws visitors from far and wide. I even spoke to a lady who had come all the way from Staffordshire!

The Scarecrow Festival started when a small group of village residents decided to host a one-off event for all the village groups and societies. The goal was to fundraise and participate together as a community rather than each group holding individual fundraising activities throughout the year. The organisers believed this approach would have more of an impact and distribute the organisational responsibilities among the fundraisers. Here we are, some twenty years later, and many of the original committee members are still involved.

 

The festival has grown tremendously over two decades, with thousands attending the two-day event. Although the main idea is to raise money for local community groups, it is an event that families can attend for free. You get to spend an afternoon wandering around the village, finding the array of scarecrows the villagers have made and put on display. You don’t even have to walk because you can also hop on a trailer driven by a tractor. Which is probably the best way to see them all – there’s over one hundred of them! This year, as well as the usual Disney and Harry Potter themed scarecrows, one of the most topical was inspired by the band Oasis and their record-breaking reunion tour.

During the weekend festivities, Lubenham village green becomes a hub of activity with stalls offering food, drinks, games, and competitions. Small businesses also sell their wares. Refreshment stops can be found around the village, including at the church and the Coach and Horses pub. Light lunches were available at the village hall, courtesy of Freedom Support.

The event is fantastic as it helps raise money and awareness for various local community groups. Organising the event is a community effort and requires many months of planning behind the scenes. The committee holds its first meeting in February each year, six months before the festival. So, a lot of preparation goes into the Scarecrow Festival.

Respectacle Company were lucky enough this year to sponsor one of the tractor rides. It’s a great experience riding around the village on the back of a tractor, spotting all the scarecrows and waving as you pass the other trailers. It’s a fun weekend for all ages; the kids especially love it.

We also had a great time on the village green, smashing plates and throwing tomahawks. It was an interesting and entertaining way to release tension! The food options were plentiful and delicious, ranging from loaded fries and noodles to hog roast and cakes. With so much to tempt us, it was hard to choose!

After a couple of small beverages in the beer tent, we wandered around the craft stalls and purchased a couple of second-hand books. Despite some very wet weather at the start, the weather was very kind to us, clearing into two beautiful days. We’re already looking forward to next year’s event because we had such a fabulous time.

The fact you can enjoy all the activities for free whilst supporting local causes is one of the things we love most about this wonderful community event. The festival would not be possible without the help of volunteers from various local clubs. These volunteers, including those from the local scout and adventurer groups, Lubenham village hall and church societies, the local heritage group, preschool groups, and local schools, all contribute to the festival’s success. The proceeds from the festival go back to these volunteers and groups and to any other local groups that apply. So, all the money raised ultimately benefits the local community, making it a win-win situation for everyone involved!

If you like the sound of this family-friendly free event, follow the Lubenham Scarecrow Festival’s Facebook page for news and updates. Hopefully we’ll see you on the village green next year!