WILL THIS YEAR’S CHAPPELL HILL SCARECROW FESTIVAL BE THE LAST ONE?
Organizers for one of Washington County’s largest and longest-running festivals have announced plans to bring the event to a close after this year’s installment.
In a letter from the Chappell Hill Historical Society Board of Directors, Historical Society President Steve Trevino wrote that the board has decided to discontinue the Scarecrow Festival following the conclusion of the 2025 event October 11-12, set to be the 48th edition of the festival.
According to Trevino, the main reasons for moving away from the festival include financial constraints, a reduction in participating volunteers, and overlap with events in surrounding communities.
Trevino said that expenses stemming from added TxDOT requirements like fencing, portable restrooms, dumpsters, sheriff’s deputies and traffic accommodations during construction along Highway 290 have contributed to the festival “now operating at nearly a break-even point.” This comes in addition to stated difficulties in attracting visitors from events in Round Top, Cypress, Waller and Brenham.
Trevino called the decision “a prudent step to safeguard the financial health of the Historical Society”, but he reiterated that the Bluebonnet Festival will continue in the spring, and the nonprofit organization will develop other initiatives like the Christmas Gala to make up lost revenue. Funding from the event helps the Historical Society preserve and maintain Chappell Hill’s historic buildings and properties.
Thousands of people attend the festival each year to kick off the fall season by enjoying live music and shopping at juried exhibitors and vendors, which typically number in the hundreds. The festival is a large driver of tourism, and the impact of its discontinuation would be felt not just in Chappell Hill, but throughout Washington County.
Kelly Atwood, co-owner of Kippers Kountry Store in Chappell Hill, says the announcement about the festival came as a “shock to everybody.” She says losing it would be a “big hit” to shops, restaurants, hotels and bed and breakfasts, adding that many visitors, some of which come from far away, have made the event a yearly tradition.
Suzy and Keith Hankins, operators of the Ant Street Inn in Brenham, hope the Historical Society is able to continue or reform the event during a different month, because they understand the troubles that the festival currently faces. They say the Round Top Fall Antiques Show pushing back its start date into October has made the month very competitive.
Randy Bayer, who runs Brown Water Cigar Bar in Brenham and has operated as a vendor for several years at the festival, says it has been beneficial for him and numerous other business owners, who see festivalgoers come and shop in Brenham after they leave the event in Chappell Hill. Rather than doing away with the festival altogether, Bayer believes more options should be considered for sustainability, whether that be adopting a minimal admission charge, raising vendor fees, adjusting when the event is held, or doing more to entice volunteers.
Dale Ramey of the Bluebonnet House and Garden Center in Chappell Hill says the festival is part of Chappell Hill’s identity and has a large reach beyond the immediate area. She believes there has been a breakdown of communication with the Historical Society and wishes to hold a community meeting with local stakeholders to come up with a plan to keep the festival going.
Steve Trevino told KWHI that a committee will work to find ways to either bring back the Scarecrow Festival in a different format or form an alternate event to possibly replace the festival.