Saratoga Village has been taken over by scarecrows again. More than 75 homemade figures line the downtown for this year's Scareatoga display, and the contest winners are scheduled to be announced Thursday, Oct. 22, according to a Mercury News community column published Tuesday.
Judges will pick winners in five categories: scariest, funniest, most creative, most original, and best scarecrow made by an organization. Laurel Perusa and Lynda Prevar organize the display, which the column says draws visitors from around the region; it quoted people who came from Pacific Grove, Ben Lomond and Capitola.
What's next on the Halloween calendar
- Goblins in the Garden, Sunday, Oct. 25, starting at 11 a.m. Montalvo Arts Center's family Halloween event includes activities for children up to age 10, picnic space on the Great Lawn and West Lawn, and food trucks plus a no-host bar for drinks. Tickets are sold through montalvoarts.org.
- Macbeth, Oct. 30-31 and Nov. 5-6. Saratoga Theater Arts stages the Shakespeare tragedy at the McAfee Performing Arts Center at Saratoga High School.
- Witchy Walk-A-Bout, Saturday, Oct. 31, 2 to 4 p.m. The Saratoga Village Development Council's free afternoon on Big Basin Way, now in its 21st year, offers games and crafts, a costume showcase, trick-or-treating at Village businesses, a giant bubble booth and music from the No Direction Ukulele Band, according to the city's event listing. The Saratoga High robotics team will also give demonstrations.
- SMASH, Sunday, Nov. 1, 2 to 5 p.m. The Saratoga High robotics team runs a free maker fair at the school where student-built machines crush leftover Halloween pumpkins for composting. According to the column, upward of 40 booths run by makers, school clubs and other robotics teams will offer hands-on science activities, and visitors of any age can drop in.