Beech Springs Farm Market will host its 12th annual scarecrow festival from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Oct. 7. The festival features an auction of scarecrows decorated and donated by various businesses and organizations from across the county, and proceeds from the auction benefit the STRIDE program.

Market owner Mary Beth Hendricks said numerous scarecrows have been entered for this year’s festival, and the event is shaping up to be more like it was when it first started as a fundraiser for STRIDE.

Admission is $5 per family, and festival goers can enjoy food, games, live music, face painting and pumpkin painting throughout the day as well.

Friday is the final day to enter a scarecrow into the festival auction in order for it to be judged in a contest. However, Hendricks said people are welcome to enter scarecrows for the auction or to be donated. All scarecrows will be on display from Sept. 30 to Oct. 7.