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Second Annual Downtown Wayne Scarecrow Fest

By Sarah Shurge phone call.
Last year in the fall, scarecrows For more information about the
returned to the City of Wayne. This Scarecrow Fest, you can check out
year - by popular request - scare- the event Facebook page by search-
crows will be returning to Michigan ing “Downtown Wayne Scarecrow
Ave! Fest”. There you will find announce-
Rachel Botu, owner of Flowers in ments, posts introducing the food
the Mitten, is hosting (for the second trucks, different games, photos from
year in a row) Downtown Wayne last year, and more.
Scarecrow Fest. The event will be Flowers in the Mitten was de-
Saturday, September 21st, from 11 signed as a one-stop shop with cus-
a.m. through 6 p.m. at Goudy Park. tomized items. Botu provides both
“Last year was amazing,” said custom work and items you can buy
Botu. “For my first festival, it was in store as well. You can purchase
very overwhelming and awesome flower arrangements, stuffed ani-
with such a great response from mals for flower arrangements, angels
everyone. More than 1,000 people and lanterns with LED candles, gar-
came out to the event.” den decor, sympathy stones, cement
This year, the event will have benches, standing stones on an
music, face painting, crafts and easel, and more.
games, four to five food trucks, a pet- Botu’s husband, Paul, is a part-
ting farm, cider and donuts, 50 ven- ner with the shop and does all the
dors and crafters, a raffle tent, and woodworking. You can order a cus-
a special performance by Allstar Pa- tom sign for a wedding, wedding
triots Dance and Gym. flowers, or custom pieces. The shop
Bluey and Bingo will be at the just needs a few days in advance to
event to meet with the kids. DJ Lou Plenty of family fun to do at Scarecrow Fest. create them.
will perform from noon - 5 p.m. to see them on Michigan Ave.,” said You will get to vote for the scare- Botu also owns the Makers Mar-
From 2 – 6 p.m. will be horse and Botu. “I was able to work with the crow winners by scanning QR codes ket as well. There are 30 different
pony rides (two horses and ponies DDA and find a solution to get them at the event. crafters inside the shop. Botu tries
this year instead of one each). The back on Michigan Ave. for people to Botu wanted to give a special to host two events/classes per month
scarecrow winners will be an- enjoy.” shout out to the Wayne Public Li- for either Flowers in the Mitten or
nounced at 5 p.m. If you’d like to get involved in the brary which will be hosting activities the Makers Market. There will be a
“We’re trying to do it bigger this scarecrow competition, you can con- with kids, Lanterns Church for mak- Disney Day in August, fall open-
year,” said Botu. tact Botu at Flowers in the Mitten by ing kids games, as well as the Mak- house in September, and so much
Of course, Scarecrow Fest would email at flowersinthemittengmail- ers Market, Wayne-Westland Credit more.
not be complete without scarecrows. .com or call (734)992-8334. It costs Union, Wayne Rotary Club, and the Flowers in the Mitten is located at
Instead of scarecrows being dis- $20 and you can pick up a scare- Downtown Development Authority 34852 W Michigan Ave in downtown
played throughout the park like last crow frame at the flower shop or (DDA) for sponsoring the event. Wayne. It’s open Tuesday through Fri-
year, this year the scarecrows will be reuse a previous frame. “Without the DDA this would not day 10 a.m. through 6 p.m., and Sat-
returning to Michigan Ave. Scarecrows are due by Friday, be possible,” said Botu. urday 10 a.m. through 2 p.m.
“I'm very excited for that because September 20th. There will be first Botu is still working on getting Get creative and get creating a
that was something people were and second place prizes for Best more sponsors (both business or in- scarecrow to be displayed on Michi-
upset about last year. They brought Overall Scarecrow, along with first dividual) for the event. If you (indi- gan Ave and be sure to come out and
up how they remembered the scare- and second place prizes for Most vidually) would like to help sponsor enjoy Downtown Wayne Scarecrow
crows on Michigan Ave. and wanted Creative Scarecrow. the event, contact Botu by email or Fest!

The Wayne Dispatch · September 2024 · 3