The Best Fall Experience in Missouri Will Have You Scared & Happy

I’m not sure if this is terrifying, amazing, or just plain odd. Still, travel experts say the best fall experience in Missouri isn’t apple picking or pumpkin patches, it’s a scarecrow festival.

What to Expect at Eureka’s Scarecrow Festival

That’s right—a scarecrow festival. Each year, hundreds, if not thousands, of scarecrows line the streets of Eureka, Missouri (just outside of St. Louis). The festival runs from October 3 through November 2, with scarecrows displayed in front of businesses, churches, schools, organizations, and homes. It’s a quirky tradition that marks the unofficial start of fall while celebrating community spirit.

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History and Tradition of the Scarecrow Festival

According to LoveExploring, the Scarecrow Festival takes over Eureka for the entire month of October and has been a tradition for several years now. I can’t help but wonder if it was created to draw in visitors from Six Flags’ Fright Fest, encouraging them to continue their trip into downtown Eureka to see the hundreds of scarecrows that line the town’s streets.

Now, let’s add this to the list of things I will definitely not be participating in. I couldn’t find any information on whether the scarecrows are scary or friendly, like the lovable Scarecrow from The Wizard of Oz, but either way, as cool as it may sound, I’m pretty sure I’d be having nightmares for weeks.

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On the other hand, this could make for a fun weekend getaway. Spend the day at Six Flags, stay the night, and then head over to the Scarecrow Festival in Eureka. See? Their clever idea of encouraging visitors to explore the festival while in town during October is clearly working.