Gladstone braces for scarecrow fair

DAY OUT: Last year's Scarecrow Fair at Gladstone School. PHOTO/FILE

Scarecrows and other creations have dotted Gladstone's countryside for weeks leading up to Saturday's Scarecrows Big Day Out, a fundraiser organised by Gladstone School.

Friends of Gladstone chairwoman Trish Thompson said the school kids have been long awaiting the "exciting" annual event that will showcase the talents and creativity of the school and Wairarapa businesses and residents.

The event will start at 9am at Gladstone School with the fun run Scarecrow Scamper, where people will register for a 5km or 10km run. Following this is the Scarecrow Fair which begins at 9.30am and runs until 2pm.

"We've got over 25 stalls, a fun run, children's games, gumboot throws, bouncing castles, face painting, and lots of old-fashioned kids' games," Mrs Thompson said.

"And everything fits in with the traditional sort of country fair.

"All of the scarecrows are Kiwiana themed and some of the neatest ones are the Good Night Kiwi scarecrow, a farmer on the hill with a whole lot of sheep in Glenside and a Footrot Flats display along Longbush Rd.

"The kids have done theirs and they're on the fence at school and the majority of organisations and businesses' scarecrows are in the Glenside area."

The third component to the Big Day Out is Scarecrows on the Gobbler, a private golf course that is open for the occasion where there will be zorbing, food and drinks, and scarecrow viewing.

This component runs from 1pm until 6pm and is held at the Gobbler on Longbush Rd.

All proceeds from the day will go towards special purchases for Gladstone School and towards organising other events to bring the school community together.

Also this Saturday is the Masterton Rotary annual Teddy Bears' Picnic at 11.30am at Henley Lake.

At this event there will be a sausage sizzle, face painting, lolly scramble and the teddy bear parade.