TAUNTON, MA — Autumn magic has officially taken over Downtown Taunton! A colorful, creative, and delightfully spooky squad of scarecrows has invaded the city center, marking the return of Taunton’s beloved annual Scarecrow Contest.
This year, local businesses and schools have gone all-out, crafting custom scarecrows that range from charmingly festive to wonderfully weird. Residents and visitors alike are encouraged to take a stroll—or a scenic drive—through downtown to check out the impressive community artwork on display.
Whether you’re out hunting for spooky photo ops or enjoying a crisp fall day, the scarecrows offer a fun, family-friendly autumn tradition for all ages.
Cast Your Votes for the Top Crows
The competition is officially on, and the city needs your help deciding which scarecrows take home the top honors! Voting is now open to the public on Facebook, with separate awards up for grabs for the best School and Business entries.
- How to Vote: Head over to the official City of Taunton Facebook page and “Like” or “Love” your favorite scarecrow photos in the album.
- Voting Deadline: Saturday, October 24, 2026 https://www.facebook.com/cityoftaunton
Gather your family, head downtown to meet the new scarecrow residents, and make sure to cast your votes before the deadline!
Details of the Tradition
- Community-Wide Effort: The contest is organized specifically for Taunton schools, school organizations, local businesses, and community groups. Each year, participants spend weeks designing and constructing custom, handcrafted scarecrows.
- Strictly Homemade: To keep the focus on local creativity, commercially made scarecrows are prohibited. Every entry must be built on a standard wooden frame (6 feet tall by 3 feet wide) and display family-friendly, non-political, and non-commercial designs.
- Downtown Showcase: Beginning in early October, the scarecrows are set up along the sidewalks and streets of Downtown Taunton, turning the downtown area into a seasonal public art trail for residents and visitors to explore on foot or by car.
- Public Facebook Voting: The winners are selected by the community. Photos of each scarecrow are uploaded to an official photo album on the City of Taunton Facebook page, where members of the public vote by “liking” or “loving” their favorite entries.
- Two Competition Categories: To keep the competition fair, awards are handed out in two separate categories: Best School Entry and Best Business Entry.
