Take a Drive to the Cambria Scarecrow Festival
The Cambria Scarecrow Festival has been a yearly tradition in Cambria since 2009. This festival began with merely 30 scarecrows; today, there are about 300 scarecrows around Cambria Village and stretching out to San Simeon. Each year they have a large display between the Santa Rosa Catholic Church and the Cambria Veterans Hall to represent each year; for the 2024 festival the display represented the 15 years of this ongoing tradition.
Not only is there a wide spread of scarecrows around Cambria Village, but some of these are not the stereotypical scarecrows. There are pedaling, dancing, and even singing scarecrows which are definitely the main attraction to all. The community does their best each year to put on this popular festival. It takes hard work, precision, dedication, and patience to make and display as many scarecrows as the community does. Most of these creators are local business workers, artists, students, and volunteers who like to contribute as well. This year's sponsors were James and Elaine Levin Anderson. Along with the following businesses Cambria Nursery and Florist and Moonstone Beach Bar and Grill.
As much fun as it is to walk around, admire and take some pictures with these scarecrows, this festival is also a scholarship opportunity. For students who attend Coast Union High School and want to pursue the arts, they have an opportunity to be chosen and be provided with a scholarship. This is to inspire artistic expression and push students to also contribute to their community.
It may come to some as a surprise that such a small town as Cambria can pull off something so popular and large, but the community is pretty tight knit and they all work together to provide these incredibly artistic scarecrows for all to see. Cambria gets visitors from all around the world just specifically for the scarecrow festival every October. The town may be small, but they are mighty and enjoy putting on this popular festival for us every year!
Sources: SanLuisObispo.com