The Doddington Scarecrow Competition has become one of the most loved parts of Carnival week over the years. Every summer the village fills with creativity, laughter, and some wonderfully imaginative scarecrows appearing in gardens, outside homes, and around the community.
In case you missed it, ENTRIES ARE NOW OPEN! Head on over to the Scarecrows section of our website and get yourselves listed!
BIG NEWS: For Carnival 2026, we’re introducing something brand new to the competition — and we think it will make things even more fun for everyone taking part.
TWO CATEGORIES
For the first time in the history of the Doddington Scarecrow Competition, entries will be split into two categories:
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Household
This category is for families and individuals. Whether it’s a project for the kids, something the whole family builds together, or a solo creative masterpiece in the front garden, this category is all about celebrating the scarecrows made at home. -
Community Group
This category is for clubs, schools, and organisations in the village — Scouts, Guides, the school, sports clubs, church groups, and any other local organisations that want to get involved.
Why the Change?
Over the years we’ve heard from some families who felt it could be difficult competing against larger groups with more people, more resources, and plenty of helping hands.
That was never the spirit of the competition. The scarecrow trail is meant to be something fun, creative and inclusive, and we want everyone to feel they have a fair chance to take part and enjoy it.
By introducing two categories, we’re making sure that every entry can shine in its own way — whether it’s the Smith family creating something brilliant in the front garden, or a group like the Scouts working together on a bigger project.
Both deserve their moment in the spotlight!
What This Means
With two categories, the competition will now include:
- Separate judging
Our judges will award prizes in both the Household and Community Group categories. - More winners and more fun
More chances for entries to be recognised and celebrated.
HAVE YOUR SAY - PEOPLE'S CHOICE VOTING
Another exciting addition this year is the People’s Choice Vote, which is something we've wanted to do for a long time!
Once the scarecrows are on display around the village, you will be able to log in to the Carnival website and vote for your favourite!
You’ll be able to cast two votes:
- one for your favourite Household scarecrow
- one for your favourite Community Group scarecrow
Voting will open when the scarecrows appear around the village and will close at midnight the night before Carnival Day.
The winners of both the judges’ awards and the People’s Choice vote will be revealed on Carnival Day itself.
GET INVOLVED!
Whether you’re building something spectacular, something silly, or something completely unexpected, we’d love to see as many scarecrows around the village as possible.
Start thinking about your ideas, gather your materials, and get ready to help fill Doddington with creativity once again.
We can’t wait to see what you come up with!