Food trucks, live music, and even an owl or two served as icing on the cake at Saturday鈥檚 kick off to Art鈥檚 Nursery鈥檚 annual fall festivities. But it鈥檚 the 60-plus scarecrow exhibits and a plethora of pumpkins in a pop-up patch that drew more than a 100 families to the Port Kells business this weekend.
In fact, it鈥檚 those scarecrows and pumpkins that will draw hundreds more to the 192nd Street nursery between now and Halloween.
For nine years now, Rebecca van der Zalm and the team at Art鈥檚 have been hosting the Scarecrow Festival, as the launch to a month-plus family-friendly community exhibit that raises money for local charity.
鈥淲e wholeheartedly believe in the power of supporting those in need and making a positive impact on the world around us,鈥� she said.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 why we have made it our mission to donate all proceeds from our festival to three incredible charities,鈥� van der Zalm added, listing the recipient as Inclusion 91原创 Society, Pacific Parklands Foundation, and the Orphaned Wildlife Rehabilitation Society (OWL).
This year, there are more than five dozen creative and crazy scarecrows, each sponsored by a local business, on display throughout the nursery for guests to discover and admire. Money raised from the sponsorship goes to the charities.
鈥淭hese are not your average scarecrows,鈥� van der Zalm elaborated, listing off Super Mario, Cruella, Little Mermaid, Alice in Wonderland, and King Kong as being among them.
She noted that every year the scarecrow stroll, as they鈥檝e dubbed it, seems to grow and expand in creativity and size.
鈥淧repare to be amazed as you enter a whimsical wonderland filled with scarecrows, pop up pumpkin patches, delightful melodies, and boundless joy. Take a leisurely stroll through this magical realm and find yourself completely immersed in the essence of the season,鈥� van der Zalm said.
鈥淐ome celebrate the fun of the season,鈥� she added, and after taking a stroll, families can also take pictures in the covered pop-up pumpkin patch and purchase pumpkins as well as scarecrow take-and-make kits that allow them to have fun together decorating their home or garden.
The scarecrow stroll continues during store hours until Oct. 31, at , 8940 192nd St. in Port Kells.
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鈥楽carecrow Stroll鈥� charity event returns to Art鈥檚 Nursery
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