They’re back …

The scarecrows have returned outside the Wiscasset town office and are here to stay until Halloween’s return. The annual ScarecrowFest in Maine’s Prettiest Village has its share loyal fans. And every year, more scarecrows are appearing downtown and on Route One as more business owners get into the Halloween spirit. The festival is sponsored jointly by the Parks and Recreation Department and Wiscasset Area Chamber of Commerce.

Again this year, besides the day of scarecrow-making, the celebration started earlier in the month with a scavenger hunt to track down the “Hidden Scarecrow.” Clues appear on the rec department’s Facebook page and the fun continues until Halloween night.

Julee Ketelhut and Tracey Whitney of Wiscasset said they were looking forward to Saturday’s festival. They arrived in costume early Saturday morning in the parking lot outside the town office. They are part of a small group calling themselves the “Pirates of Federal Street.”

“We collect Halloween costumes people no longer want and give them away free to kids and to anyone else,” Ketelhut explained. She was standing behind a table loaded with spooky masks, pirate’s hats, jackets, scarves and dresses in crazy colors that defy description. Both ladies said they had attended Wiscasset Elementary School’s Halloween celebration the night before. Whitney said they had already given away 50 or so costumes. Ketelhut and Whitney are encouraging their Federal Street neighbors to get into the spooky spirit by decorating their lawns in a haunted pirate theme for the community’s annual Halloween parade better know as “Nightmare on Federal Street.” They said a Pirate Lair will soon be on display outside the Octagon House.

Cara Watson of Winchester, Virgina and Sara Heisler of Chesapeake Bay, Maryland were in town visiting relatives and friends. They could not resist attending the festival and teamed up to create a scarecrow. After 20 minutes, they had put together a headless pirate.

Along with scarecrow making, there were vendors and craft tables along with face-painting and cornhole. The chamber provided free coffee and baked goods along with hot chili and meatballs. The day’s only low point was cancellation of this year’s Chili/Chowder, Pumpkin Dessert Challenge due to low entries.