The town of Amherst is looking a little spooky this week. The annual Scarecrow Stroll is back, drawing crowds, classrooms and plenty of creativity. Some are big, some are small and just like the town’s Great Amherst Mystery, these scarecrows come with stories of their own. “This is the sixth annual Scarecrow Stroll and it’s part of our yearly event called Esther Fest,” said Sharon Bristol, the town’s director of community living. “The festival of Esther Cox is growing every year, and so is our scarecrow stroll.” More than 40 businesses and for the first time, half a dozen residents have built their own spooky displays. Bristol said the event has become something the whole town looks forward to. “I think what makes it special is that it brings the community together, and it gives us a sense of pride,” she said. “There were over 1,000 kids in the downtown core from the three local elementary schools that did the stroll.” It’s also a competition, with bragging rights and some prizes from the town on the line. When the event first started, there were 20 participants now there are 40. People can vote online for what they feel is the scariest or best scarecrow. The stroll has become a showcase of small-town pride and creativity, something store manager Nicole Kearney says gives people a reason to stop in and look around. “I wanted something that was spooky,” said Kearney, who manages Maritime Tartan, a clothing store in downtown Amherst. “I wanted something that people would come in and kids would be terrified and tell their friends.” From cobwebs to clever characters, each display is different. “Everybody does something different and something new every year,” Kearney said. “So it’s just a wonderful expression of creativity for everybody.” Bristol said events like this keep Amherst connected and help celebrate the town’s history while attracting new visitors. “We had a lot of people coming from away this year for Esther Fest,” she said. “It’s our story to tell. We want to be known as the ghost capital of Canada — and this is all part of that.” The scarecrows will stay up through Halloween, wrapping up a two-week festival that ends with a Under-18 hockey game between Team Canada and Czechia at the Amherst Stadium tomorrow night. Puck drop is at 7:30 p.m. For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
