More than 100 scarecrows will hit the streets of Downtown beginning Oct. 19 for Andover Coalition for Education’s 11th Annual Scarecrow Festival.
This year’s theme is “Things That Make You Smile!” Scarecrows will be on display through Nov. 2.
ACE, which has already raised more than $31,000, will have an information booth in front of Old Town Hall from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday.
“With October here, it can only mean one thing…it is time for the ACE Scarecrow Festival! ACE is thrilled to be celebrating our 12th annual Scarecrow Festival with the Andover community,” ACE President Jayashree Mohandas said in a news release. “Our theme this year is focused on Things That Make You Smile! ACE invests in school initiatives that provide a personalized learning experience, foster critical thinking and prepare students for success beyond the classroom. We also focus on supporting the mental-health and wellbeing of our students as well. We look forward to seeing all the things that bring our students and community happiness as they draw on this theme for inspiration in their scarecrow masterpiece. We are so thankful to the many sponsors and community groups that are participating with us again to help bring some joy to our downtown.”
For the fourth straight year, ACE is letting families donate $10 to add a pumpkin to the patch outside of Andover’s elementary schools, as well as the Shawsheen Preschool (main photo).
The scarecrows are created by schools, community groups and sponsors and displayed on light poles Downtown. All proceeds fund Andover Public Schools through Teaching Innovation Fund (TIF) grants.
Photo: Dave Copeland/Andover News