What You Should Know About the Fairfield County, Ohio Trail of Scarecrows

How to Explore the Trail of Scarecrows

Known as the Scarecrow Capital of Ohio, the Trail of Scarecrows is an autumn celebration held throughout Fairfield County every October.  During this event, both tourists and locals will be visiting different communities across the county and voting for their favorite scarecrow!  These unique scarecrows are created by local businesses, organizations, and individuals, and have become an annual tradition for most.  We often see over 250+ entries!  This year marks the sixth anniversary of the Trail of Scarecrows with a special theme – occupation – and a chance to win prizes for ten different categories such as Best Dressed, Most Creative, Silliest, and more! 

Locals and visitors can both delight in scarecrow challenges!  A scarecrow challenge exists for every participating community in Fairfield County. With the Visit Fairfield County app, scarecrow fans can use the digital map to find scarecrows and enter a three-digit code to check in at each scarecrow. These codes are available on each scarecrow’s name sign. After checking in at half of the scarecrows in one of the fourteen communities, participants complete the challenge and can go to the Visit Fairfield County Visitor Center in downtown Lancaster to obtain prizes.  As people visit scarecrows across the county, they can also vote for their favorite in each community!  New this year, voters can write-in their favorite scarecrows and nominate them for awards such as Best Movie-Inspired Scarecrow, Best Dressed, Best Scarecrow Scene, and more. Winners will be announced in early November on the official Trail of Scarecrows Facebook page.  The Trail of Scarecrows officially launches October 1-31, so don’t miss this autumnal tradition in Fairfield County!

The Autumn Experience

We welcome you to explore our beautiful county and have an Autumn Experience like no other.  Between local pumpkin patches and farms, beautiful autumn foliage, 15 original covered bridges, fairs and festivals, fun frights, and harvest celebrations, you’re sure to fall in love with Fairfield County! Find fun fall events and festivals happening soon.

Bonus: How to Register

If you live in Fairfield County, Ohio, register your scarecrow now for a chance to win!  Create a movie-themed scarecrow or compete in another category for a chance to win a special prize. Winners are determined by public vote on the Trail of Scarecrows voting form. Every scarecrow will be eligible to win a People’s Choice Award in its community, but categories are an added county-wide challenge for fun in which viewers will nominate their favorite scarecrows for each category!  After registering, create your scarecrow and place it outside your home or business to join the fun.  Your display will be listed on the Visit Fairfield County’s Trail of Scarecrows digital map! Improve your chances of winning by uploading a photo of your finished scarecrow with its name tag provided by Visit Fairfield County to be included on the voting form. 

Plan your autumn trip to Fairfield County today!

Sign up for our monthly newsletter to stay up-to-date with new business, events, and more happening in Fairfield County, download our app, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.  Explore more of our themed trails for additional fun including the Route 33 Brew Trail, the Sweet Tooth Trail, the Covered Bridge Trail, and more!