From staff reports

 

This year’s festival takes place from October 8 through November 2, 2019, and features dozens of unique scarecrow designs, fall flowering displays, thousands of pumpkins, and autumn decorations displayed throughout Shangri La Gardens. Created by talented people from community organizations, businesses, schools, churches and families, scarecrow designs range from funny to clever to wacky and weird! For sure, no two scarecrows are ever the same. 

The Scarecrow Festival is a great way to celebrate the changing season and see what talented members of the community can create with repurposed and recycled materials as well as a heap of imagination. Scarecrow exhibits are always innovative, inspiring, and kind to their world. As always, Shangri La Garden’s theme focuses on “environmentally friendly” scarecrows.

Don’t forget that Autumn Fair is the last day of the Scarecrow Festival, Saturday, November 2, and a day of family harvest fun at Shangri La Gardens. The scarecrow winners will be announced, and awards distributed. Daylong activities include face painting, hayrides throughout the day, raffles for prizes, live animal shows, games and activities, live music, and of course the last chance to see the scarecrows.

To participate in the 2019 Scarecrow Festival, please submit a 2019 Scarecrow Festival Entry Form no later than 5 p.m., Wednesday, October 2, 2019, to ensure official acknowledgment and approval of your entry. Entries may be submitted via hand delivery, U.S. mail, fax, or electronic submission on the Shangri La website (shangrilagardens.org), as long as all paperwork is fully completed, initialed, signed and dated.

All scarecrow entries must be installed Saturday, October 5, 2019 (9 am – 5 pm), Monday, October 7, 2019 (9 a.m. – 5 p.m.) and/or Tuesday, October 8, 2019 (9 a.m. – Noon).

Shangri La is a 250-plus acre space in Orange, Texas, along the waterways of Adams Bayou that combines botanical gardens and an education nature center in a unique way. Imagine a place where you can escape the routine and stroll along garden paths surrounded by fragrant flowers. Birdwatch for hours or take a naturalist-led excursion along Adams Bayou to see the wonders of nature, learn about the environment and its care, discover animals in their natural habitats and spend time with friends and family. Enjoy the Children’s Garden that delights the young and young-at-heart, gain a new sense of environmental stewardship and participate in classes and workshops that promote “green” ethics and life-long learning for all ages.

Shangri La is a program of the Nelda C. and H.J. Lutcher Stark Foundation, a private operating foundation that aims to encourage and assist education and to improve and enrich the quality of life in Southeast Texas by providing significant resources for the study and enjoyment of art, history, nature, and culture.

Located at 2111 West Park Avenue in Orange, Texas, Shangri La Gardens is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday free of charge from 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. 

For more information call 409-670-9113 or visit shangrilagardens.org.