Craig Masterton says

Is it possible to ask what these 'issues' with the WKCIL are?  It seems a shame that a festival that brings the community together is having to be cancelled due to issues. 

Jurie Duvenage says

Dear Craig it's actually very simple and could have been resolved months ago, we hope for it to be resolved within the next few days you are welcome to contact us by mail wkscarecrowgrp@btinternet.com for a more detailed explanation.

Site admin says

Mo Blake says:

Events such as the Scarecrow Festival are very important for the community and for the very survival of a number of small businesses in West Kilbride.  If there is anything myself or anyone else might be able to do to ensure that the Festival goes ahead, please let me know.

Mo Blake says

As already requested, I would like to know why the Scarecrow Festival has been cancelled and if anything can be done to reverse this decision. As previously stated, many of the independent shops in West Kilbride rely upon such events for their very existence.

Mo Blake

Books in the West

Jurie Duvenage says

Hi Mo

Please contact the Scarecrow Committee on 01294 829022 or send us a mail scarecrowgrp@btinternet.com.

Please also visit the Groups Section on this page for more info regarding this and next year's events.

al dapre says

West Kilbride is a tourist town. Over the years the Scarecrow Festival has attracted people. It is part of the quirky charm of the place. Any in-fighting and bickering of various committees is ridiculous. (Mo - I can't see why you have to ring the committee - for transparency your question should be answered here ... )

WK can not afford to lose its assets (we have enough of a job keeping the library) ... so it is vital that the Scarecrow Festival goes ahead. Rumour has it that it will be shelved until next year meaning that it is not axed, just postponed. Surely it does not take a year to organise the event.

Many residents want it this year 2011 and there seems to be a simple thing to do:

Residents should put up Scarecrows the week before the Masquerade Festival which is on the 6th August. There would be no competition but at least the villagers would attract people in, benefiting the shops and keeping the tradition alive.

This would give the current Scarecrow Committee a year of breathing space and they could organise the usual parade and competitions for 2012. Sensible eh?

I will be putting a scarecrow up this year whether the current scarecrow committee lets me. There is no copyright on this. Maybe I could get the WK Initiative to lend me a few of the ready made ones?

SOS - Save our Scarecrows 2011  !!!!

Joanne Kelly says

I'm really disappointed that this year's Scarecrow Festival has been cancelled.  Whatever the reasons for this, it can only be to the detriment of the village.  I'm not local to WK, and as an outsider, looking in, I feel this event should be preserved and nurtured.

lesley richardson says

The b bs have already made theres and we ll put it up any way and  i am not breaking  with  tradition i ll  still be putting one up . Life  s    too  short     can we  not resolve the  differences and  move on   ?

K. Allan says

The Gala will be holding it's new style Masquerade Gala on the 6th of August, hope this fills a hole in this summer with the Scarecrow not taking place this year. The New Masquerade Gala will move back to it's orginal position of June n 2012. So for one year only 6th of August . . get making your mask's soon. Hey, you could even stick a carnival mask on your Scarecrow and keep the spirit going.

Pauline Dixon says

As I understand the biggest problem has been the lack of volunteers or helpers to  come forward. The old committee as you will remember lost two of its members in as many months and they were a hard act to follow.  The new members had to start from scratch as the leaders had gone.    With few helpers and lack of Scarecrows in good condition very few Scarecrow makers. Last year was a none runner

The making of the Scarecrows takes weeks and weeks of work by helpers   The street scarecrows have to be renewed, repaired and made from sratch. each year. On and above the ones made by  the famillies  and shops. So if you wish the Scarecrows Festival to continue help is needed   YOUR HELP....It is up to you it is your village......