Scarecrow Festival returns after ‘15 rainout

After a one-year hiatus, the Kaufman Scarecrow Festival returns for a two-day event Friday and Saturday, Oct. 21-22.

Rain washed out the event a year ago, but it is coming back with Friday evening activities for the first time.

The courthouse square is the central location for the festival, which will kick off with a street dance on Friday.

T.J. Broscoff will take the stage, adjacent to Lott’s Cleaners, at 7 p.m. on Friday to be followed by a performance of the famed Lightcrust Doughboys at 9 p.m.

Also new this year is a beer and wine concession to be hosted by the Kaufman Chamber of Commerce from 5-11 p.m. on Friday and noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday.

A variety of food vendors will set up shop Friday evening and throughout the day Saturday.

Saturday’s events get under way with the Witness the Fitness 5K Fun Run sponsored by the Kaufman Christian School. It starts on the square at 8 a.m. and will also finish on the square.

The traditional parade gets going at 9 a.m. in the area of the high school on South Houston St., runs through the square and finishes in the area of Shannon Park.

Arts and crafts vendors will be in place Saturday, along with a children’s area at the First Baptist Church parking lot.

Live music on Saturday on the main stage includes Chip Murrey and the Texas Underground, the Wesley Pruitt Band and the Acoustic Sound Hounds.

Local talent is still being lined up for the second stage but it expected to include several groups from Kaufman High School, a tae kwon do demonstration and more.

Organizer Curtis Snow, tourism coordinator for the chamber, estimates there will be at least 85 to 90 vendors representing a wide variety of foods and arts and crafts.

The Carter Blood Bank will be set up to accept donations.

The Circus Freaks will be on hand for street performances.

Also new this year, the Kaufman Lions Club will host an all-you-can eat pancake feed from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on the corner of Jackson and Mulberry, with inside seating. Cost is $8.

More information about registration and deadlines is available on the chamber’s website.

The event got its start in 1987 with a contest for the best scarecrow, sidewalk sales, PTO carnival, costume contest and a haunted house.