Scarecrow Festival returns to Carson Mall Thursday

Back by popular demand is the Scarecrow Festival at the Carson Mall, held Thursday through Saturday this week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day.

The turn-out at last year's festival went so well that mall management decided to bring it back again this year, said event coordinator Colleen Hillman, owner of Bridger Mountain Boutique in the Carson Mall.

Only the format will be a little different this year, she said.

"Last year, people made scarecrows and brought them in," Hillman said. "This year, by popular request, we are making the scarecrows in the mall."

She said a lot of people attending last year's event were really interested in making the scarecrows in the mall, so the concept was changed this year from take-home to sit-down.

"People thought that having a scarecrow festival meant you could come and make a scarecrow," Hillman said, "so we changed it to be held here in the mall this year. We think it will be even more fun."

Scarecrow bases are being constructed and those will be available for decorating, she said. But people will need to bring their own accoutrements if they want to dress and decorate more elaborately.

"We are providing the basics and they can bring the rest," she said. "Start looking around your house to see what you can add to your scarecrow. Make it special."

Basic clothing for the scarecrows has been gathered, Hillman said, including blue jeans and plaid shirts donated by Helping Hands in Minden. The Carson Mall purchased the wood for the bases, she said.

"We have everything to make a basic scarecrow," she said. "But if you want to make a better mousetrap scarecrow you can do that."

Scarecrow entries will be judged, Hillman said, with a cash prize awarded to the winner. Judging will take place on the festival's Facebook events page here, she said.

Because this year's Scarecrow Festival is being held in the mall, Hillman said family participation is strongly encouraged.

"We encourage parents to come with their kids," she said. "We want at least one parent in the group. It's going to be an interaction where mom, dad and the little ones can make something together."

Proceeds from last year's Scarecrow Festival went to the Carl Howell Memorial Fund, Hillman said.

"It was near and dear to all of our hearts," she said. "We reached out to the entire community and the surrounding communities."

During last year's festival, officers from the Carson City Sheriff's Office, Reno Police Department and Douglas County Sheriff's participated in the scarecrow-making contest, she said.

This year, Hillman said the proceeds go to benefit the Special Olympics of Nevada as part of the organization's annual "Go For the Gold" fall campaign.

"Our goal is to raise $500 for Special Olympics," she said.

Local Special Olympians, including Carson City native Tyrone Schultz, have been helping to build the scarecrow bases in preparation for Thursday.

Schultz is a perennial medalist who has been competing on the Carson City team since he was a child and collecting awards all along the way.

"I know I have more golds than Michael Phelps," he said.

Funds raised by the Scarecrow Festival will help Special Olympians train and travel to competitions, Hillman said. Donations also help the organization afford needed athletic equipment and the award medals for athletes.

There is no charge to make a scarecrow, she said, but donations are requested and appreciated.

"We ask for donations to make a scarecrow," Hillman said. "But if someone can't then they can make one for free."

Because there is a limited number of pre-made scarecrow bases, Hillman said reservations are recommended and can be made up to the day of the event.

More than 200 people come through the mall during last year's festival, Hillman said. With all of the crafting and decorating being done in the mall this year, she is hoping to see even more people participate.

"We had 200-300 people wander through last year," she said. "We're hoping to double that this year."

In addition to scarecrow building, there will be craft vendors and photography available, Hillman said. Children are encouraged to come dressed in their favorite Halloween costumes, too.

Saturday will feature face painting, a balloon clown, and the first 100 children will receive a free pumpkin that they can decorate at a craft table set up with all of the design materials.

"We've got lots of crafts to decorate them," Hillman said. "It's going to be great fun."

She said the pumpkins will be judged on site and a prize -- yet to be detemined -- will be awarded to the winner.

Those who may miss out on a free pumpkin can receive halloween coloring books that they can decorate during the festival, Hillman said.

There will something for everyone to do at the Scarecrow Festival, she said, especially having fun.

"It's going to be a great time," Hillman said. "I encourage people to come, meet and greet their friends, make scarecrows together, visit our vendors, have lunch at one of our great restaurants and make a day of it."

Hillman has owned Bridger Mountain Boutique in the Carson Mall for five years. Prior to that, she operated her retail business through vendor shows for 25 years.

Named after the Bridger Mountains in Montana where she grew up, the 2,800 square-foot store is the realization of a childhood dream for Hillman, who has lived in Carson City since 1978. She retired from Nevada state service with the Public Utilities Commission and the National Guard.

"I grew up on a farm in Montana," she said. "There was no place close to shop for clothing, so I used to shop out of magazines and catalogs. I aspired to have my own store one day and at an early age, I started to collect displays for my store."

Bridger Mountain offers a little something for everyone, she said, from sports memorabilia to women's clothing and accessories, yard art, African art, as well as art and crafts made by local aritsans.

"The store is quite eclectic," Hillman said. "I encourage people with arts and crafts to bring them in and put them on consignment with me. That makes the store more special."

Hillman said she looks for the unique among art and craft works. Bridger Mountain currently carries locally made walking sticks, vinyl signs, sculpture and photography.

"It's not an art gallery," she said. "But any time you put art in a room it completes the room."

Bridger Mountain Boutique is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Find it on Facebook here for more information on the store.

To reserve a scarecrow for this week's festival, please call Hillman at 775-434-9639.

The Carson Mall is open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Find it on Facebook here to learn more about the businesses located there.