A new fall tradition is taking root in Iowa. The Iowa Scarecrow Festival will debut on Saturday, October 18, 2025, 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.

More than 50 scarecrows of all shapes, sizes, and designs will be there. Silly, cute, scary and sweet. More joining every day. Scarecrow selfies are encouraged. And many you’ll be able to buy. 🙂

A number of vendors will be displaying Scarecrows and/or scarecrow themed products such as cookies, pillows, crochet plushies and more. 

Part art installation, part community showcase, the Scarecrow Festival invites 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—there’s room for every kind of creativity.

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

Additionally, in partnership with Together We Achieve we will be collecting food donations at the entrance. Plus, 10% of ticket sales go directly Together We Achieve.