2025 marks the 11th annual SQUAREcrow takeover on the Historic Gainesville Square!

Don’t miss a visit to the Historic Downtown Square during the last two weeks of October- seeing the amazing SQUAREcrow creations is always a treat!

This beloved fall tradition brings together creativity, community, and a touch of whimsy as local businesses and organizations decorate the square with unique and imaginative scarecrow displays.

Wander through the heart of Gainesville and admire the fun, quirky, and sometimes spooky designs. Whether you’re competing or just enjoying the festive atmosphere, the Squarecrow Contest is a perfect way to celebrate the season and showcase the spirit of our vibrant downtown!

For $35, businesses, non-profits, and organizations can apply to put up a scarecrow display on the square to promote their group. We’ll upload a photo album of all the contestants on the Explore Gainesville Facebook page; the photo with the most likes by Halloween will win! The winning prize will be a $150 gift certificate of Main Street Money, good at over 25 businesses in Downtown Gainesville!

2024 Layout Map:

CONTEST RULES / HOW TO APPLY FOR THE CONTEST

*Applications for 2025 Coming Soon*

Entry Requirements: We encourage clever, family-friendly creativity! Your Squarecrow can advertise your business or organization, hours, and location and let everyone know what you are about. View previous years’ displays for inspiration.

Display Spaces:

• Your exhibit space will be notated by a bale of hay with a laminated contestant sign attached that shares the description you provide about your display. We will send out a location map once all entries are received so you will easily be able to find your location.
• Electricity is not provided, however upon request could be considered. Spaces are assigned by the order in which applications are received.
• Keep in mind this is a public area, so do not use anything in your display that you would want returned to you in perfect condition. You will need to check in on your display from time to time, as they can easily move or be damaged by weather. Consider ways to stabilize your display.

Set-Up:

• Set-up begins October 11 at noon through October 17 at noon.
• All that will be provided for you is one bale of hay and a laminated contestant sign. You are welcome to bring more hay, or anything else you want to use for your display.

Breakdown:

• ALL display items you bring to the square must be removed after Halloween, no later than November 3.
• The hay bales provided can be left, or any non-painted or altered hay bales you bring may also be left. They will be given back to a local farm.
• Anything left downtown will be discarded, so please arrange for your items to be picked up. If you do not remove your display and leave it for our team to clean up, you will be asked not to participate again.

Contest Rules:

Pictures will be taken in the afternoon on October 17 and posted on Facebook. The photo with the most likes on Halloween wins! The winning prize will be a $150 gift certificate to a downtown business of choice.

Interested in sponsoring the Contest? SIGN UP HERE

All sponsorships which include printed materials must be confirmed 4 weeks before the event.

Sponsorships which include digital materials only must be confirmed 1 week before the event.

$250 hay sponsor

• Free Contest Entry
• Logo on Layout Map Yard Signs
• Posts on Downtown Gainesville’s Facebook and Instagram Pages.
• Business Name / Link on Webpage.