In conjunction with Hillsdale, NY’s well-established 9th Annual Pumpkin Festival on Saturday October 10, the Town’s Hamlet Committee is pleased to announce a new component added to this year’s event: a gathering of scarecrows, featuring a competition of handcrafted scarecrows honoring “Hometown Heroes.” Business owners and anyone else who would like to participate are invited to create homemade scarecrows to display outside and all throughout the hamlet up until the day of the festival which culminates this Saturday.
At 11 am on Saturday October 10, all scarecrows will be relocated to the Hamlet Park for public viewing and judging by members of the public. All are welcome to attend. At 4 pm, prizes will be awarded for overall “Best in Show, most humorous, most noble, most artistic.” Members of the committee say all scarecrows are welcome, but participants are encouraged to design scarecrows honoring a type of hometown hero or essential worker such as professionals in the fields of health care, farming, education, customer service or trade. 
All businesses located in the Hamlet of Hillsdale are invited to join in celebrating the 9th year of the town’s annual Pumpkin Festival. Businesses who choose to participate in Pumpkin Festival are encouraged to devise seasonally-appropriate or festive activities, services or merchandise to be given or offered for sale to their customers for Pumpkin Festival. However, all participating businesses must continue to adopt and follow all safety procedures they have already adopted, and consider adopting any new procedures which they believe they should or must apply to planned activities. Responsibility for complying with federal, New York State and local laws remains with participating businesses. Wearing of masks, both indoors and when in close proximity with others outdoors; use of hand sanitizer; and avoiding sharing materials touched or used by others are all encouraged and in some circumstances may be required by law. Existing limits on the number of persons admitted to indoor locations must continue to be observed.
In addition, a variety of town-wide events will be taking place throughout the day including live music, community tables and a pie baking contest. A Columbia County Remote Police Command Vehicle will be on display and child ID sign ups will take place from 12pm to 2pm. Pumpkin painting will take place from 1pm to 2pm and a State Trooper K-9 patrol will be on hand to promote seat-belt use and safe driving and even a voter registration table will be set up for folks who have yet to do so. Folks from across Columbia County are encouraged to come and enjoy the parade of activities, discounts and giveaways throughout the historic hamlet.
