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2026 Scarecrow Garden Contest!
Old Westbury Gardens is excited to announce the return of our beloved Scarecrow Garden!
Contest Dates: October 3-24, 2026
Exhibition Dates: October 3 – 31, 2026
Fall wouldn’t be quite the same without a garden full of scarecrows—and they’re making their return to Old Westbury Gardens! Whether your creation is charming, clever, whimsical, or wonderfully weird, we want to see what you come up with.
Bring your best scarecrow to the Gardens October 1st and enter for a chance to win a one-year OWG membership and a curated gift basket! Then come back throughout the month to see all the creative entries on display!
Ready to have some fun?
Check out the important dates and guidelines below and register your scarecrow today!
MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
Registration Deadline: Tuesday, September 29
Scarecrow Drop-off: Thursday, October 1st between 10:00am – 6:00pm
Scarecrow Pick-up: Sunday, November 1st, between 12:00pm-6:00pm
Contest Dates: October 3rd – October 24th
Exhibition Dates: October 3rd – October 31st (closed Tuesdays)
IMPORTANT SCARECROW ENTRY GUIDELINES:
Bring your entry to Old Westbury Gardens and inform the ticket booth staff that you are dropping off a scarecrow.
Scarecrows must be easily carried by two people, weigh less than 50 lbs. and fit within a 6′ x 6′ space. It must be freestanding – it cannot rely on being secured into the ground. Scarecrows will be secured by Gardens staff but will not be dug or staked.
You will not be allowed to set up your scarecrow in the Gardens or choose the location. You can set up at the drop-off point to show assembly. It is helpful if a photograph of the assembled scarecrow (enclosed in a plastic bag) is included with your entry.
Do not include live plant material, real pumpkins or real food/candy in your display. Hay is acceptable.
Make your entry durable and weather-proof. Any scarecrow that deteriorates to an unacceptable level during the month will be removed.
Entry must be suitable for viewing by children. Entries in poor taste for family viewing, depicting controversial subjects, or overtly commercial, political, or religious in nature will not be accepted.
The Gardens provide signage identifying your organization and the name of your scarecrow. The Gardens do not allow additional signage, pamphlets or handouts to be displayed with your scarecrow.
The Gardens are not responsible for loss/damage. Do not include material you expect to be returned.
You will only be allowed to make adjustments to your scarecrow on October 2, between 3:00pm – 6:00pm, once it has been installed by Gardens staff. We will do our best to install the scarecrow as requested. No further adjustments or requests will be allowed.
For each entry submitted, you will receive four (4) FREE admission tickets to Old Westbury Gardens, valid during the exhibition from October 3rd to October 31st. Tickets can be picked up at check-in during scarecrow drop-off.
Old Westbury Gardens reserves the right to refuse any entry.
Please email the Education Department with any questions!
VOTING GUIDELINES:
Voting for the Crowd Favorite will take place via QR code from October 3 through October 24. Each visitor may cast one vote only.
The winner will be announced on 10月24日 on Instagram at @oldwestburygardenskids.
Viewing the Scarecrow Garden exhibition is included with admission.
PRIZES:
1st Place Winner: One-Year OWG Membership + Curated Gift Basket
2nd Place Winner: Curated Gift Basket
Winners may pick up their prize(s) and scarecrows on 11月1日. (Scarecrows not picked up by 6pm on Sunday, November 1st will be discarded.)
