Individuals, families, businesses, sports teams, and organizations are all invited to participate in a new competition being hosted by Newtown Parks & Recreation.

Residents are encouraged to scare COVID out of town by creating a scarecrow to decorate one of the lamp posts at Fairfield Hills. Those entering the inaugural Newtown Parks & Recreation Scarecrow Contest will adopt the lamp post of their choice (first come, first served), build a scarecrow, and then affix it to their adopted lamp post.

Scarecrows can go up as early as October 12, but must be in place by October 25.

From October 26 to October 29, the community will be invited to vote for their favorites. Winners will be announced on October 30.

Votes will be cast for Most Original, Newtown Pride, and People’s Choice. Each first place winner will receive a family four-pack Newtown Parks & Rec Pool & Beach Pass for summer 2021, along with bragging rights.

For additional information contact Newtown Parks & Recreation at 203-270-4340.

Guidelines

Cost to enter is $25 per group. Entry applications are available at the Newtown Parks & Rec office, 8 Simpson Street.

Applications must be completed and returned with the entry fee by October 9. Only the registration is due by the close of Parks & Rec that afternoon (4:30 pm); scarecrows do not need to be constructed that day.

Scarecrows cannot exceed 6 feet in height, and cannot be more than 2½ feet wide.

Displays cannot extend beyond the curb.

Displays should be secure with zip ties or wire — no excessive tape.

Displays cannot obstruct pedestrian traffic on sidewalks and should be angled to be visible to both oncoming traffic and pedestrians.

Displays cannot include acts of violence, nudity, nor racially insensitive content.

Newtown Parks & Recreation reserves the right to not accept any entry that is deemed inappropriate for general public display.

Entrants should follow all CDC guidelines and social distance.

Newtown Parks and Recreation is not responsible for the maintenance or care of individual entries. Participants are encouraged to provide upkeep should any materials become detached.

Scarecrows must be removed by November 1. No residue is to be left on lamp posts. Any scarecrow remaining after that will be collected and disposed of by Newtown Parks & Recreation staff on November 2.

Voting

Ballots will be available at Newtown Parks and Recreation. Voting is limited to one ballot per person, per day.

The ballot box will be set up within the lobby of Newtown Community Center, at 8 Simpson Street. Ballots can also be written and mailed in, but must be received by October 29.

There is no limit to the number of ballots cast, but they must be submitted to the Newtown Parks and Recreation office during the voting period of October 26-29.