It’s getting scary in Petrolia.

Members of the Petrolia Rotary and the Volunteer Business Group have stuffed, dressed, decorated and mounted 160 scarecrows around town as part of the 8th Annual Scarecrow Festival.

At least 40 new scarecrows are on display, complete with colourful faces painted by Karen Benusik. One of the organizers, Jean Windover, says the friends have all been dressed in an agricultural theme to help celebrate the 150th anniversary of the first fall fair in the area.

The Volunteer Business Group is also encouraging homeowners to get involved by putting up their own scarecrow and then registering it at a local business. Judging will take place Oct. 4.

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