Kettlewell villagers organised their first scarecrow festival in 1994 and it has continued as an annual fundraising event ever since, becoming more expansive as each year passes. You don’t have to be particularly perceptive to see how it has helped today’s community make links, attract newcomers and prosper.
The Scarecrow Festival is all the nicer for being in a scenic village of traditional stone-built homes. The church still has the font from the original Norman church, dating back to around 1120, and the tower of the Georgian one that followed it. There’s an Arts and Crafts layer too: I was intrigued to see William Morris’s name in one of the beautiful stained glass windows and later discovered I missed finding a Thompson mouse, and the beaver of one of his protégés, Colin Almack. One for next time!
There’s a scarecrow for everyone from the traditional, straw haired gentleman above…
…to this more modern little cutie. I’d somehow navigated this earth without noticing Makka Pakka and it took the people of Kettlewell to put me straight.
Thee festival included many ingenious recreations of heroes, heroines and role models for kids and the young at heart. [I was shocked to note that the WordPress spellcheck autocorrected strongwoman to strongman when I was adding a description to the picture below (there it goes again – just try it!). That’s a big oops.
Each year, Kettlewell Scarecrow Festival has themed trails. In 2018, when we were there, the themes were ‘Movies’ for adults and ‘Magical Stories’ for kids, with much overlap between them. I’m not sure which category Doctor Who was from – I thought that was all true, just hushed up so’s we don’t start to panic.
There were derring-do animals too, including Daredevil Dan, awaiting being fired from a cylinder with an expression that suggested he may not have attempted this feat before.
Some of the best dressed scarecrows I’ve ever seen were at Kettlewell: I’d be more than happy to wear the strongwoman’s dress (scroll back up for a reminder), if it would fit and if someone invited me to the right kind of party. Even if it isn’t your colour, you’d have to give it kudos for looking so good after a few days outside in the wind and rain.
I loved the hearty way these choristers are singing and the floriferous cottage gardens acting as a backdrop. The villagers hold scarecrow-making training courses to help newcomers and novices get up to scratch, and it shows. These scarecrows were built to last well beyond the 9 days of the festival, making me wonder where they are all stored during the year – now that would make a picture!
Scarecrow clowns are cheery enough in the daytime, but must add frission to walking around Kettlewell in the dark while the event is in full swing.
I saw several Minions, but none so photogenic as this one, monitoring compliance to the 20 mph speed limit.
There were many topical references – political commentary and wry social observations with a humorous twist. The celebration of the 70th anniversary of the NHS shows a patient labelled ‘Nil By Mouth’, but closer inspection shows he’s getting local ale by intravenous drip.
I’ll always be a Magic Roundabout girl at heart, so my award would probably go to Florence, Brian the snail and the other Magic Roundabout scarecrows. The village itself seemed simply lovely, with lots of flower-filled gardens and patios.
And the face in the hole photo boards were as high quality as the rest of the event: one of several ways to make sure kids feel fully involved.
More Information and Links
Kettlewell Scarecrow Festival starts during the second week in August – in 2020, it will run from 8th to 16th August. Check the website for details or follow the festival on Facebook. Visitors will find ample, cheap, day-long parking, well over 100 scarecrows, fresh country-baked food in the tea rooms and village hall, and ‘three splendid hostelries’. Drivers will benefit from studying how to enter and leave the village – we drove over a narrow, never-again road on the way to our next stop, The Forbidden Corner.
Susan Rushton 
Such fun! I would to see this in person. I think someone we both know wrote a book about scarecrows ;^)
You’re right – I think he may have enough material for a second volume now 🙂
There is a coach park available if you prebook – but there may be some issues rounding up everyone afterwards in time to leave!
We accidentally found ourselves surrounded by scarecrows as we passed through one year. At that time it was much smaller and lower-key, there were no obvious signs and no-one to ask. As we exited the village we looked at each other in e did-that-really-happen kind of way!
I can imagine it getting bigger and better every year, especially as many of those scarecrows are made to last!
The community of Kettlewell sets a fine example of renewal and revitalization for many towns and villages struggling to stay alive in the world wide trend of urbanization. Great colourful post, Susan!
They’ve done a brilliant job. It was lovely to see people of all ages taking part too.
Loved it! The scarecrows are so creative and the town looks so idyllic. Lovely share!
It’s nice to combine idyllic and off the beaten track with laughter and companionship.
A beautiful and fun post, Susan.
Thanks, Pat.
I think Jo (Restless Jo) has written about this festival before. Must be an amusing way to spend a few hours. I was photographing scarecrows yesterday, though not anywhere near the number you found.
I’ve never seen so many in one place. There were lots of little clusters of them too, including a pirate ship and a farmyard.
Wow! That does look like fun.
We happily spent half a day there, including a break for lunch, coffee and cake.
I loved this. A little boy in my daughter’s kindergarten class called them squarecrows.
Squarecrows! I love that – though it provides another way to test the spellcheck, I can’t really complain.
Ah I love scarecrow festivals. There is one in a local village to me. Kettlewell’s looks fantastic though. The Malham Safari, also in the York Dales is very similar and just as good. Oooh did you like The Forbidden Corner? Have been a couple of times with my niece and nephew and we loved it. 🙂
Yes, we liked it a lot. I looked up the Malham Safari – some of those scarecrow animals were supercute and morris dancers too!
How fun!! Someday i hope to go traveling the US with my Grandson – to me the fall festivals are the most fun!! Thank you for sharing.
My pleasure – glad you liked it.
So creative!
I imagine it provides food for conversation in those hostelries for weeks to come!
What a fabulous time you must have had that day. I’ve never been to a scarecrow festival but I would love to if they are anything like as good as the ones you’ve photographed. The clown ones though…. maybe a bit Midsummer Murders? My vote would go to spiderman.
Spiderman is a good choice. I had a massive smile on my face when I saw that one!