Fall Festival in Houschton, Georgia

Houschton, Georgia -- The Festival is September 26-27. The Festival is usually a typical small town festival, booths, food and evening entertainment. This years looks like it going to be a bigger deal. The whole town is so excited, I am and I do not even live there anymore. I had lived in this town for 5 years and then moved just a couple of years ago.

My old small, northeastern Georgia town is making for an eerie ride home from work. I drive through the small town when I go to work and visit old neighbors. It is a wonderful small town, trees and sidewalks and friendly people.

Since I leave work at 4:30 a.m., The ride home is eerie because they are having a Scarecrow Fall Festival.

They have over 4000 scarecrows lining a 4-5 mile stretch of highway. There is every character you could think of. With Elvis and the Georgia Bulldog team on a playing field with a losing team, it looks like Georgia Tech or Clemson and cheerleaders cheering. There's a whole church congregation along with the choir, Jesus, angels and animals. There's Cousin It. And I see whole families of scarecrows in front yards. Mechanic scarecrows working on cars, a NASCAR set up of pit-crew and drivers at an antique shop.

They are made of Mayfield milk jugs (Mayfield Processing Plant in nearby town) and pillowcases, soft sculptures of every kind and everywhere you look. There is even a small apartment complex that has their residents at the front of the complex. I mean everywhere, in front of the old courthouse in the square, the daycare center, with the daycare shirts and shorter crows. They have gotten attention from international waters; one resident was asked to speak on an Ireland radio show about their small town and the quest for The Most Scarecrows In One Place Record.

I guarantee that no one has any clothes that do not fit in their closet. The local thrift store either. They have made an appealing impression on the town,

Residents have gotten together to beat the Guinness World Record of most scarecrows in one place, Cincinnati, Ohio's record of 3,311 in 2003, according to local newspaper, Barrow County News.

From the looks of it on my drive to and from work, I think they have made that record and more. I have never seen so many people in town walking around taking pictures and stopping on the side of the road.

It will be a fantastic festival, Good luck, Houshton!