SCARECROWS are set to be the stars of Burley-in-Wharfedale’s scaled-back Summer Festival.

The event, now in its twelfth year, usually sees the village hosting all kings of social events over a busy week - including vintage car shows, opera nights and murder mystery evenings.

The pandemic, however, has forced the organisers to rethink things which means the programme this year will only feature trails and quizzes, including the Scarecrow Trail.

Festival Chair Jan Lepley said: “The ethos of this year’s Summer Festival is to produce a programme of small-scale, low-cost events designed to encourage community wide involvement.

“The scarecrow competition theme is ‘musicals’ and the committee invites the local community to make their own scarecrow based on this theme.

“The competition will again be open to residents, local businesses and village organisations.

“Brunhilda Scarecrow, created by committee member Chrissie Smith, is a doyen of previous trails and will be in various places around the village so keep a look out!”

Scarecrows will be displayed between Saturday, August 22 and Monday, August 31. Judging will take place throughout the week - and the judges will be members of the public who complete a form.

There will be a first prize of £25, a runners-up prize of £15 and £10 for third place. All of the judging forms will also be entered into a draw for a £10 prize and a cup will be presented for the winning local business or group, too.

The festival will also include a treasure hunt that will challenge participants to find the answers to a series of visual and word clues while taking a stroll around the village on a circular path that begins and ends at the Roundhouse.

Other trails will include a Cryptic Challenge consisting of clues that, once solved, will lead entrants to a location where a question has to be answered.

There will also be a geocache/QR scan trail and a new family colour quiz. Jan added: “We think that everyone can enjoy all the quizzes and trails around the village whilst staying safe outdoors.”

The committee will put up a gazebo near the Roundhouse, in Grange Park, on Saturday, August 22 where forms for trails and quizzes - each costs £1 - will be on sale daily from 10am to 4pm.

Forms can be returned there up until 4pm on Saturday, August 29 and can also be e-mailed to burleysummerfestival.org or burleyscarecrows@gmail.com until Sunday, August 29. They can also be put through the letter box at Burley Library or the Queens Hall.