By Joel Spears
Features Editor

MOUNT CARMEL - Fall is in the air and it's almost time for the annual Mount Carmel Scarecrow Festival on Saturday, October 3.
    Organizer Susan McCracken said she expects the event to be bigger and better this year and also welcomes all civic clubs, church groups and individuals to reserve a vendor space and join the fun.
    "Everybody is welcomed," McCracken said.  "From 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. we've planned a farmer's market and flea market area for our vendors.  Those are available for $10 per spot.  We also have spaces available for arts and crafts or food vendors that are $40 per spot, or $50 with electricity."
    McCracken said the farmer's and flea market area will be set up in the parking lot of Mount Carmel Shopping Center, while all others will line Main Street.
    A beauty pageant has also been scheduled for contestants from newborn to 21 years old.
    McCracken said the contest is open to all area residents and includes an entry fee of $25 per person.  Applications are available on the Town of Mount Carmel's Web site, www.mountcarmelcity.com, or by calling (423) 357-9991.  The pageant is scheduled to begin at Noon on October 3, with registration from 11:15 a.m. until 11:45 a.m.
    Also included at this year's event is the Scarecrow Festival Art Show, sponsored by Church Hill Middle School Art Department.  The grand prize winner of the art show will receive a savings bond.
    To help scare up a little more fun for the younger children, a Scarecrow Competition is already underway at Mount Carmel Elementary School, sponsored by The Wave Consignment Shop.  Each classroom at MCES, which has its own mascot, will construct a scarecrow based on that character.  The winning class will receive free ice cream from Dairy Cup.
    "We added the Scarecrow Competition last year and received approximately 25 entries.  It was a great experience for the kids and they really enjoyed bringing their families to see the finished products," McCracken said.  "It also adds more to our event for people to come see, then shop, or have something to eat."
    In addition to plenty of scarecrows, food and crafts, the festival will also include kids' rides by Good Times Rides, a comedy show, karaoke, "Cleetus the Airbrush Guy," and an antique tractor show.
    "The entire day should be fun.  We have tried to include something for everybody to enjoy and there is always room for more vendors or groups who might be interested in setting up a space at the festival. 
    Anybody who would like to reserve a space should give us a call as soon as possible."
    Vendor applications are available at The Wave, L&L Rugs, The Willow Tree, and Mount Carmel Town Hall, or by calling 357-9991.
    The Scarecrow Festival is sponsored by Mount Carmel Merchants Association.