Scarecrow festival attracts thousands (From The Bolton News)

Scarecrow festival attracts thousands

8:59am Monday 9th July 2012 in News

Scarecrow festival attracts thousands

SCARECROW fans from as far afield as Scotland and Wales visited Blackrod for one of the borough’s more unusual family festivals.

Several thousand revellers packed into the grounds of Blackrod Church Primary School for the village’s sixth annual scarecrow-themed celebration.

In the run up to the event, Blackrod residents have been putting the finishing touches to 120 scarecrows showcased with pride across the village.

They include scarecrows based on the Avatar film, the Wallace and Gromit movie and the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations.

Michelle Woodward, who helped organise the festival, helped design seven scarecrows with an Olympics theme.

She said: “It has been one of the most successful festivals yet, if not the best.

“People have been coming from all over the country to be here and the atmosphere is unreal.

“I would like to thank everyone associated with the school and with St Katharine’s Church who have helped over the last few weeks to put on this weekend’s activities. Their effort has been incredible.”

Another organiser, Jean Hibbert, said: “The sheer variety of scarecrows we have had this year is really impressive.

“Combined with this weekend’s entertainment, it has been a wonderful festival this year.

“The whole community can be extremely proud of what they have done to bring everyone together and put Blackrod on the map.”

Visitors young and old also rolled up their sleeves for a tug-of-war contest and tried their hand at a series of army games.

Firefighters put on a demonstration of a simulated road accident rescue and there were also tyre-pulling tournaments and boxing demonstrations.

Organisers said they are hoping to combine this year’s proceeds with the £2,000 raised at last year’s event to pay for new facilities at the Vicarage Road play area.