Summer has ended, which means autumn fun in Jennings County is underway, including several annual Halloween events.
Scarecrow contest
Scarecrows entered in North Vernon’s annual scarecrow contest are already popping up on city streets.
“There is still time to create a scarecrow and I hope more people get involved to make this a fun time for the whole town,” said Jennings County tourism director Judith Ross.
According to Ross, in the spirit of harvest time and autumn fun, people across Jennings County are encouraged to make their own scarecrows, but only scarecrows displayed in downtown North Vernon will be considered for the competition.
Single scarecrows or groups of scarecrows can be entered as one entry. The scarecrows can be placed on public property or, with an owner’s consent, on private property.
The scarecrows can be based on any theme as long as they are appropriate for family viewing.
“Just make your scarecrow any way you want. About everything you need to make a scarecrow is probably in your closet and it can be completed easily in an evening. Just have fun with it,” Ross said.
The free contest is open to individuals, businesses and organizations. In order to be considered for a prize, each scarecrow displayed must be registered. Registration forms can be picked up in North Vernon at A Perfect Day Cafe, 221 E. Walnut St.; Furniture and Things, 1661 N. State St.; and The Antique Store, 246 E. Walnut St.
The deadline to register a scarecrow in the competition is Thursday. Winners will be chosen on Oct. 6, and $100, $50 and $25 prizes will be awarded.
Organizers said they would like all scarecrows to remain in place throughout October and be removed by Nov. 5.
Ghost Walk
Volunteer actors and drama students are putting the final touches on costumes they will wear to act out ghost stories along the streets of Vernon during the 2017 Jennings County Historical Society Ghost Walk on Oct. 13 and 14.
Activities begin at 6:30 p.m. and last until 9:30 p.m. on both days.
Tour guides carrying lanterns will lead walking tours of ticket holders from place to place in the old town of Vernon. Along the streets of the tiny town, where most of the homes were built in the 1800s, actors will suddenly appear and perform dramatic re-creations of a series of scary stories.
The tours last around 20 minutes each. The tours begin and end across from the Jennings County Courthouse at the Jennings County Historical Society Museum, 134 E. Brown St.
The event is a fundraiser for the Jennings County Historical Society. Tickets cost $4 for adults and $2 for children. Tickets can be purchased at the door or ahead of time at the Historical Society Museum. For additional information, call 812-346-8989.
Mystery Dinner
Called the Mystery Dinner because the menu is kept secret prior to the event, the popular annual dinner is at the Jennings County Historical Museum building, 134 E. Brown St. in Vernon.
The Mystery Dinner dining room is decorated in a Halloween theme and all the servers at the dinner wear costumes. Guests may wear costumes or regular attire.
It’s a fundraiser for the Jennings County Historical Society. Mystery Dinner tickets are $18 each and reservations are required. Reservations must be made prior to the event.
One Mystery Dinner will be Oct. 13 and two are planned for Oct. 14. For times and to make reservations, call 812-346-8989, or stop by the Jennings County Historical Society Museum between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Wednesdays, Thursdays or Fridays.
Halloween art
For more than eight years, Cindie Underwood-Vanderbur’s art featuring Halloween creatures and themes has been a part of Jennings County Halloween festivities, and will add to the unholy ambiance again this year.
This year her work in the theme of “Halloween in Flight” will be on display at A Perfect Day Cafe, 221 E. Walnut St. in North Vernon, during the month of October.
The display will be open to the public during the cafe’s normal business hours, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. No purchase at cafe is required to visit.
