Family-friendly Iowa Scarecrow Festival debuts alongside Made in Iowa Fall Market

CEDAR RAPIDS — A new fall tradition is taking root in Iowa. The Iowa Scarecrow Festival will debut Saturday, Oct. 18, at Hawkeye Downs in Cedar Rapids, running alongside the popular Made in Iowa Fall Market, which draws over 150 curated vendors from across the state and thousands of attendees.

Part art installation, part community showcase, the Iowa Scarecrow Festival invited individuals, families, businesses, schools and organizations to submit their most creative scarecrow designs for public display. From classic straw-stuffed sentries to quirky characters made of recycled metal, fabric scraps or even kitchen utensils — every kind of creativity will be on display.

The event also features a charitable twist. Made in Iowa has partnered with Together We Achieve, a Cedar Rapids-based nonprofit working to end food insecurity across Eastern Iowa. Attendees are encouraged to bring non-perishable food items for donation, and 10 percent of all door proceeds will directly support local hunger relief efforts.

From 2–3 p.m., select scarecrows will be available for donation-based adoption — an additional fundraiser for Together We Achieve.

“With the launch of the Scarecrow Festival, we’re adding even more joy, whimsy and purpose to the Made in Iowa Market,” said event organizer Cynthia Freese. “It’s a celebration of community creativity with a mission to give back.”

“Fall should be a time of warmth and comfort,” added Raymond Siddell, executive director of Together We Achieve. “Partnering with Made in Iowa lets us remind families across Eastern Iowa that they’re not alone — and that we’re building something better together.”