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Annual scarecrow festival to return this weekend

Thursday, 28 August 2025 18:06

The Minskip Scarecrow Festival returns this weekend. (Images: Tiina Gray)

A village between Knaresborough and Boroughbridge is hosting its annual Scarecrow Festival this weekend.

The popular event returns to Minskip tomorrow (Saturday) and Sunday, with scarecrows set to line the streets in a blaze of colour.

This year’s theme is ‘Pop Stars’, with the competition to be judged by radio presenter Elly Fiorentini.

Winners will be announced in the church garden on the Sunday afternoon.

The event is also fundraising for St John’s Church.

Debbie Hargreaves, who is one of the organisers, said:

“It’s absolutely wonderful how so many villagers have made scarecrows in the past and I expect the same this year.

“The competition has really caught the imagination in recent years of the village and the standard is incredibly high.

“It’s great fun and all proceeds from the competition go towards our little church, which, like so many rural churches, is desperately in need of money.

“Apart from raising money for the church, the Scarecrow Competition is a brilliant way of creating and enhancing community spirit within Minskip.

“We pride ourselves on being a friendly and welcoming village and this weekend is a great example of this.”

The suggested entry fee for the competition is £10 and prizes and donations have been gifted by a number of Minskip businesses

Across the weekend (12pm–4pm each day), there will be home-baked cakes, tea, coffee, ice creams and hot dogs on Saturday, while Sunday adds Pimms, a barbecue, tombola, and a pre-loved stall.

Car parking is available in the village field, making it easy for visitors to explore the scarecrows and stop by for refreshments.

Robert Beaumont, a member of Minskip Church Council, said:

“I’d like to thank Debbie and her team for all their hard work, enthusiasm and imagination in creating this fantastic weekend.

“It will raise much-needed money for our lovely little church and help to keep it as a vibrant part of our village community.”

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