Meadow Vista man gives scarecrows character

The Auburn Recreation District's annual Harvest Festival is this Saturday, Oct. 18, and you can count on seeing Kurt Barton at Recreation Park with another of his spooky scarecrows. The scarecrow contest is joined by other events, including giant pumpkins, the costume contest and parade, live music this year from "Bam Pow Smash" and more than 60 vendors, food and beverages, plus bounce houses, a kids area and trick or treating, of course. The festival runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is free to attend. Barton won the scarecrow contest for the first time in 1997 and has won several more since, according to his wife of 46 years, Karen Barton, who says Kurt's entries differ every year. One entry consisted of a group of 17 scarecrows called "Field of Dreamers." Another entry was a scarecrow rock band, and then there was "Out to Lunch," which Karen Barton described as "just a big ol' scarecrow carrying his lunch pail, and he was a little wacky." The couple lives in Meadow Vista, and Karen Barton has compiled an album of Kurt's scarecrow entries "because he puts so much into them," up to a year. "They are detailed, and the people who really like to do it every year are very much into it." Cash prizes are up for grabs in the Scarecrow Contest for the categories of People's Choice, People's Kids Choice, Judges' First Placer, Judges' Second Place and Judges' Third Place. The ARD website notes themes must have a positive statement and no automobiles are allowed. The Giant Pumpkin Contest is another community favorite. According to Muscott, the record stands at 1,652 pounds. Randy Warren was awarded for his 1,296-pound pumpkin last year, an Auburn Journal report notes. The Giant Pumpkin Contest is sponsored by Green Acres Nursery, giving cash prizes to the first- through seventh-place pumpkins with the most robust taking home $1,000. A $500 bonus will also be awarded for the largest Placer-grown pumpkin. Community members who don their best costumes will have the chance to be named Most Frightening, Best Disney Themed, Best Homemade, Most Original and Best Pet Costume. The Harvest Festival, according to ARD Administrator Kahl Muscott, has been "an Auburn stalwart" for more than two decades. "It is my favorite Auburn area event!" Muscott said in an email to the Auburn Journal on Friday. "To say it is my favorite is saying a lot, as I think that Auburn is fabulously rich in wonderful events." For more information, visit https://auburnrec.com/events/auburn-harvest-festival/ Recreation Park is located at 123 Recreation Dr. The ARD website notes festival events are scheduled as follows: 9:30 a.m. - Giant Pumpkin Contest weighing begins 10 a.m.-1 p.m. - Costume Contest registration, Scarecrow Contest judging 10:45 a.m. - Skyridge Dance Program performance 11:15 a.m. - Auburn Gymnastics performance 12:30 p.m. - Giant Pumpkin awards 1-4 p.m. - Live music from "Bam Pow Smash" 1:30 p.m. - Costume Parade gathers at bocce courts 2 p.m. - Costume Contest led by the Sugar Plump Fairies and voting on People's Choice Scarecrow ends 3 p.m. - Scarecrow Contest award