The eagerly-anticipated Leap Scarecrow Festival returns this year, running from October 21 to November 3. Renowned for its one-of-a-kind scarecrow competition, this annual event, attracts visitors from far and wide who come to enjoy the weekend of Halloween-themed fun, creativity and community spirit.
The scarecrow displays, ranging from hilarious to horrifying, give a spooky spirit to this otherwise quaint village. With more prize categories this year than ever before, the 2024 scarecrow competition promises to be the most exciting and ‘spooktacular’ yet. Along with the scarecrows there are plenty of family-friendly events to enjoy, from parades and dances to fun activities.
The idea for this celebration of Halloween in Leap originated in 2015 from local resident Rita Ryan. What started as a small festival quickly gained momentum with the local and wider West Cork community joining in to create scarecrows of all shapes and sizes.
Reflecting on those early days, Rita says, “Initially, we just thought it might be nice to have a festival of fun for Halloween, in our quiet little village of Leap, and hoped that maybe a few people from the surrounding areas might find it amusing and come and join us.”
Now in its ninth year, the festival, growing bigger and better each year, continues to attract a large crowd.
While the festival itself only lasts a few days, behind-the-scene preparations begin early, with planning by the committee starting in March and meetings held regularly throughout the year. Organising the various events, coordinating with local performers, and ensuring everything runs smoothly, takes a lot of effort and dedication from all involved.
“It takes a lot of hard work and commitment,” shares one committee member “but seeing how special the event has become for the village makes it all worthwhile.
Committee member Toddy Hogan reflects on the sense of belonging the festival fosters: “When I moved to Leap 18 months ago, it was a great opportunity to get involved as a volunteer and help out, as well as getting to know people in the community.”
Over the years the festival’s standout moments have been the witches’ dance, the Halloween parade and the electric atmosphere that takes over the village. “The buzz around the village is incredible. The village, decorated with spooky and fun creations is a sight to behold, and I love seeing all the creativity proudly on display.”
The combination of fun and supernatural creativity makes the Leap Scarecrow Festival an otherworldly event that everyone should experience. Don’t miss out on this memorable Halloween experience!
