Downtown LaGrange readies for Halloween season

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Entries sought for chili, scarecrow events

Staff report

The staff of Dr. William B. Miller’s orthodontics office give out their ‘hillbilly chili’ during a previous Chili Cook Off on Lafayette Square. This year’s event is set for Oct. 24 and organizers are seeking entries for contestants in the cook off.

http://lagrangenews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/37/2015/09/web1_0923Chili.jpgThe staff of Dr. William B. Miller’s orthodontics office give out their ‘hillbilly chili’ during a previous Chili Cook Off on Lafayette Square. This year’s event is set for Oct. 24 and organizers are seeking entries for contestants in the cook off.

Submitted

Plum Southern’s pumpkin-faced scarecrow sits downtown during a previous downtown scarecrow contest.

http://lagrangenews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/37/2015/09/web1_0923Scarecrows01.jpgPlum Southern’s pumpkin-faced scarecrow sits downtown during a previous downtown scarecrow contest.

Submitted

Scarecrows made up as ballet dancers sit downtown during a previous downtown scarecrow contest.

http://lagrangenews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/37/2015/09/web1_0923Scarecrows02.jpgScarecrows made up as ballet dancers sit downtown during a previous downtown scarecrow contest.

Submitted

A Spongebob Squarepants-looking scarecrow sits on the square during a previous downtown scarecrow contest.

http://lagrangenews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/37/2015/09/web1_0923Scarecrows03.jpgA Spongebob Squarepants-looking scarecrow sits on the square during a previous downtown scarecrow contest.

Submitted

The staff of Dr. William B. Miller’s orthodontics office give out their ‘hillbilly chili’ during a previous Chili Cook Off on Lafayette Square. This year’s event is set for Oct. 24 and organizers are seeking entries for contestants in the cook off.

http://lagrangenews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/37/2015/09/web1_WEB0923Chili.jpgThe staff of Dr. William B. Miller’s orthodontics office give out their ‘hillbilly chili’ during a previous Chili Cook Off on Lafayette Square. This year’s event is set for Oct. 24 and organizers are seeking entries for contestants in the cook off.

Submitted

Plum Southern’s pumpkin-faced scarecrow sits downtown during a previous downtown scarecrow contest.

http://lagrangenews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/37/2015/09/web1_WEB0922Scarecrows1.jpgPlum Southern’s pumpkin-faced scarecrow sits downtown during a previous downtown scarecrow contest.

Submitted

Scarecrows made up as ballet dancers sit downtown during a previous downtown scarecrow contest.

http://lagrangenews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/37/2015/09/web1_WEB0922Scarecrows2.jpgScarecrows made up as ballet dancers sit downtown during a previous downtown scarecrow contest.

Submitted

A Spongebob Squarepants-looking scarecrow sits on the square during a previous downtown scarecrow contest.

http://lagrangenews.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/37/2015/09/web1_WEB0922Scarecrows3.jpgA Spongebob Squarepants-looking scarecrow sits on the square during a previous downtown scarecrow contest.

Submitted

LaGRANGE — The Downtown LaGrange Development Authority is getting ready to kick off Halloween season and seeking entries for its annual Chili Cook Off and downtown Scarecrow Contest next month.

The chili cook off is 11 a.m.–2 p.m. Oct. 24 on Lafayette Square and participants may win prizes. Categories are people’s choice and the judges’ choice for best chili. The best-decorated booth also nets a prize.

The event draws more than 1,500 attendees annually, said Barbie Watts, director of promotions and marketing for the DLDA, and “it is a great way for local businesses and organizations to increase awareness of their business or cause.” She added that it can also be a team-building experience for organizations as they plan and work the event together.

Preparations also are underway for downtown LaGrange’s fifth annual Scarecrow Contest. Community businesses, organizations and individuals are welcome to participate, said Watts.

The winning entries will be selected based upon the highest number of votes cast on the Downtown LaGrange Facebook page by members of the community. A photo of each scarecrow will be posted in a “2015 Scarecrow Contest” photo album on the Downtown LaGrange Facebook page after Oct. 2, and people may vote for their favorites until 5 p.m. Oct. 23.

This year, the theme category will be “musical icons” to celebrate the upcoming opening of Sweetland Amphitheatre in 2016. Other categories for the contest are most original scarecrow and the scarecrow that best represents its sponsoring business or organization.

More event details and applications for the events are available at www.downtownlagrange.com in the “events” section. Those interested may also contact the Downtown LaGrange Development Authority at barbiew@downtownlagrange.com for more information.

Reach the LaGrange Daily News at 706-884-7311.