Meaford's award-winning Scarecrow Invasion and Family Festival celebrated its 20th anniversary with fanfare, fun, and thousands of happy faces that lined the streets of the southern Georgian Bay town in the heart of Ontario's apple growing country on Sept. 30th amidst two hundred or more scarecrows that are testimony to the community spirit that shines on Meaford year-round. The birthday celebrations started on Sept. 6th when the 20th anniversary line-up of scarecrows invaded the town and carried on throughout September with a birthday bash on the 17th in honour of George Potopnyk and all of the volunteers and sponsors dating back over the 20 years, a feature pre-parade show with the OPP Golden Helmets Motorcycle Precision Team on Sept. 30th, followed by the best-ever parade and a family festival that kept a crowd of visitors partying well into the night at the Meaford harbour.

Scarecrows, like apple pie, are a Meaford tradition. The whole community embraces the invasion and family festival. Our sponsors and local businesses are proud participants.

The Meaford Scarecrow Invasion and Family Festival is pleased to share the results of the 20th anniversary business and apple pie competitions as follows:

Business Competition:

Indoor Display Rice's Home Hardware

Outdoor Display Howard Florist and Greenhouses

Honourable mention Christ Church

Window Display Muxlow Pharmacy

Honourable mention Kerry's Computer & Music

Best-of-the-best 'Patches' award Muxlow Pharmacy

New this year: People's Choice Howard Florist and Greenhouses

Note: Awards will be presented to winners during the Meaford Chamber of Commerce After 5 on October 20th

Apple Pie Competition:

Traditional (sponsored by Grandma Lambe's) - 1st Shirley Shortt, 2nd Caley McInnis, 3rd Gail Murray

Youth (sponsored by Bill's val-mart) - 1st St. Vincent Gr. 3s, 2nd Heidi Murray, 3rd Sadie Best, Novelty Drew Acres

source: media release, Meaford Scarecrow Invasion and Family Festival