The inaugural Claremont Scarecrow Party showcased decorated scarecrows in front of homes and businesses across the city throughout the month of October.
The Scarecrow Party, which was also a contest, had a total of 95 participants.
Randy Lopez of the Claremont Chamber of Commerce was a coordinator for the event, which by its nature worked, amid the coronavirus pandemic that has caused so many celebrations to be canceled.
“The idea of not having any type of community event was just so sad for all of us, so we thought we would do something to potentially have fun,” Lopez said. “We decided to create something that was just fun without a lot of rules (for which) everybody here can participate. Just simply put a scarecrow up in front of their business or their home, and create this larger event with scarecrows throughout the city.“
Scarecrows are also posted in front of The Diamond Center Jeweler, Saca’s Mediterranean Cuisine, Some Crust Bakery and other small businesses around Claremont Village.
Terri Riojas, owner of Rio de Ojas, folk art and home decor store on Harvard Avenue in the Claremont Village, worked with Lopez in putting on the event. And she also participated.
A 10-foot scarecrow greets customers as they walk up to her store. Riojas said her inspiration for this scarecrow came to her years ago when. She’d created the face previously and then decided to do the full body for this event. She named her scarecrow Katrina.
“We also do Dia de los Muertos,” Riojas said.
Contest winners were announced last week as follow:
- “Most Imaginative” went to “Revenge of the Scarecrows,” found at 420 West Point Drive;
- “Most Humorous” went to goes to a scarecrow called “ScareCrovid on the Stairway to Heaven,” found at 615 E First Street;
- “Using the Unexpected” went to a scarecrow called “World’s Tiniest Scarecrows,” at 334 S Annapolis Drive;
- “Most Artistic” went to the Kiwanis Club of Claremont for its scarecrow called “Pearl,” at 514 Bluefield Drive;
- “Most Kinetic/Tech” went to the scarecrow named “Harold and Bob,” at 409 E Macalester Place.
- “Most Inspired by Claremont” went to the West End Auxiliary Children’s Fund for a set of scarecrows called “Virtual 5/10k Walk, Run, Hike,” at 2519 N Mountain Ave.
- “Best Promoting Business” went to Assaf Insurance Agency for the scene “Farmer’s ScareCrew.”
- “Best Found/Recycled” went to a scarecrow called “Clank,” at 676 Charleston Drive.
- “Best Kid Created” went to “Rowling the Recycled Reader at the Little Free Library,” at 209 Sweetbriar Drive.
For more information on the scarecrows, visit the Claremont Chamber website.
–Gabriella Cummings
Gabriella Cummings
