Just in time for Halloween fun ahead, the Edmonds Historical Museum is sponsoring the first-ever Edmonds Scarecrow Festival!

While fall festivities may seem far away, now’s the time to start thinking about what type of family-friendly scarecrow you’d like to build. The museum has even provided a flier with step-by-step instructions, including a list of all materials you need.

The contest has several goals, including providing motivation for local businesses to decorate for trick-or-treating festivities citywide and at the haunted Museum, as well as helping celebrate the museum’s 40th anniversary.

In addition, it will provide visual interest for the Hekinan Sister City Delegation visiting from Japan in October and will also help foster ties between businesses, residents, art organizations and student groups in Edmonds.

Handmade scarecrows will be exhibited at businesses and residences throughout Edmonds. The museum will collect votes online on its website to determine the best scarecrow. Applications will be available on the Museum website beginning Sept. 15.

More details to come, but contact the museum if you are associated with an art or student group and would like to either build scarecrows for others (as a fundraiser) or simply serve as an advisor to those wanting help with their scarecrows.

You can send an email to edmondsmuseum118@gmail.com or call the Scarecrow Hotline at 425-774 6507 starting Aug. 13.