What do a Guinea Pig Spy, an Omnomonster, and the mysterious Mr Wheatly have in common? They’re all community-crafted characters that have popped up alongside 49 other scarecrows in the ninth annual, weird and wonderful Stratford Scarecrow Trail.

Running from 31 October to 16 November, the Scarecrow Trail is one of Taranaki’s largest scavenger hunts. Keen-eyed hunters can search for more than 50 scarecrows across the district, with $2,000 worth of prizes on offer for both scarecrow creators and seekers.

Saba Afzal, Stratford District Council (SDC) Community and Economic Development Manager, says, “Grab your trail map, your friends and whānau, and head off for a scarecrow adventure in the heart of Taranaki.”

“You’ll encounter guardians, mythical beasts, a bear, and more. If you think you know what scarecrows look like, think again. We’ve got some seriously creative people in our community, and they always bring it for the trail.”

Participants don’t need to find every scarecrow to enter the prize draw. To be in to win, trail hunters can download an entry form and trail map from Stratford.govt.nz/Scarecrow or pick up a printed copy from the Stratford Library & Visitor Information Centre, Wai o Rua - Stratford Aquatic Centre, or Council’s Service Centre.

The scarecrows themselves are judged across four categories: Pre-School, Primary School, Business, and Open. There are also awards for the best overall use of upcycled materials and the coveted People’s Choice. Prizes have been sponsored by local businesses CMK Chartered Accountants, New World Stratford, Fulton Hogan, Mitre 10 Stratford, and the Stratford Business Association, with Taranaki Electricity Trust supporting the event as a whole.

The Stratford Scarecrow Trail runs alongside the Taranaki Garden Festival, Fringe Garden Festival, Sustainable Backyard Trail, and Taranaki Arts Trail. In a trail first, most scarecrows will remain on display until 1 December, giving visitors to the Royal A&P Show, hosted in Stratford from 29 to 30 November a chance to view people’s creations.

Saba says, “If you’re visiting Taranaki, haere mai! Come see us in Stratford district, where the food and hospitality are fantastic, the vibes Shakespearean, the parks, natural scenery, and art are all incredible, and the people are awesome. Oh, and did I mention the scarecrows?”

“I declare the hunt is open!”

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