This year’s Newtown Middle School My Favorite Scarecrow Contest will be on display and open for voting from this Saturday, October 19, until Sunday, October 27.

This year marks the 17th year eighth grade student groups have been challenged to create a larger-than-life scarecrow, designed to frighten away a demon of their choice, that can withstand inclement weather. The scarecrows are then put on display on NMS’s front lawn on Queen Street, voted on by the public for $1 per vote, and the top three winning scarecrow groups receive the proceeds to donate to charities of their choice.

An estimated 40 scarecrows will be put on display this year, as a result of the efforts of 131 students.

Each student group is limited to spending $30 on its scarecrow.

Voting on the scarecrows is open while the creations are on view for the public. Ballots will be available at the school, in this week’s print edition of The Newtown Bee.here, and

Votes can be submitted with the accompanying payment to either NMS or dropped off at The Bee’s 5 Church Hill Road office. Votes can also be submitted in person to volunteers overseeing the scarecrows on Saturday and Sunday, October 19– 20, and Saturday, October 26, between 10 am and 4 pm.