They began to arrive early in September, scarecrow scouts appearing one by one to stand silent on lawns through town. By the middle of the month, they’d taken over. Everywhere you looked, straw-filled sentries – this year’s army seems to have escaped from frightening, fantastic, and farcical fairy tales – greeted you with sewn-on smiles, pasted-on pouts, or glued-on glares.

For the 16th time in as many years, Meaford’s Scarecrow Invasion was complete. Well, not quite. To celebrate its domination of Meaford, an army of scarecrows will amble down the main street of town this evening.

To see the burlap battalions in fine fettle and join in the fun, head down to Sykes Street later today. Starting at 5 p.m., enjoy the pre-parade Tartan Fling, with performances by the Celtic Dance Company of Owen Sound. At 6, prepare yourself for the parade itself, as it descends on downtown. Then, follow the tattered troops to Meaford Harbour for the Scotiabank Family Fun Festival. It’s free, and there’s a little something for everyone, including an apple pie contest, vintage vehicles on display, goats and other animals seemingly wandered in from local farms, and a performance by the Grey County Highlanders Pipes and Drums Band. Meaford’s Farmers’ Market will also be open for business.

To prepare you for what’s to come, enjoy the following videos of Meaford’s Scarecrow Parade.