Scarecrows first took over the village of Kettlewell as part of a 'Fun Day' fundraising event for Kettlewell School in 1994. Due to the overwhelming support and enthusiasm of the village there were over 110 scarecrows displayed around the village, in gardens, on roofs, in the churchyard etc.

The scarecrow figures were many and varied e.g. chimney sweep, clown, vicar, bride, fisherman, babies and a cyclist.

The scarecrows proved so popular with the visitors that the Kettlewell Scarecrow Festival was born. The Festival was organised and run by the 'Friends' of the school and grew from a one day event to a weekend and then to its present nine days.

As the Festival grew, so did the work involved and the organisation had to accommodate all the visitors and their cars. Local farmers lent more fields for car parking. By 1998 the Festival had grown to such an extent that in the Spring of that year, the sixteen families at the school felt unable to run the event successfully and the Village Committee was formed, with representatives from the School, St. Mary's Church and the Village Hall.

The Festival continues to grow in popularity. Visitors walk the Scarecrow Trail, solving the clues which have a different theme every year, finding all the scarecrows in unusual nooks and crannies, eating home baked cakes in the Village Hall and generally having a 'Fun Day out for all the Family.'

The success of the Festival is due to the support of the whole village and the community spirit that is evident throughout the week. Everyone helps in some way, whether making scarecrows, baking the hundreds of cakes, or manning the car parks to ensure the thousands of visitors arrive and depart safely.

Everyone involved ends the week exhausted but there is one comment that is heard in most conversations, 'Isn't it lovely to see all those happy, smiling faces!' During the week as we all rush around frantically, it is those happy faces that help to keep us going and make all the hard work worthwhile.

We look forward to seeing you and many more scarecrows appearing in Kettlewell in the years to come.