Ten years of straw and surprises on the Stratford Scarecrow Trail

The tenth annual Stratford Scarecrow Trail is now open, with 51 community-made scarecrows on display across Stratford district from 30 October to 30 November 2026, and $2,000 in prizes up for grabs for both hunters and creators.

Hunters can expect the unexpected. Scarecrows are lurking in gardens, peering out of shop windows and keeping watch over farm gates, from Broadway to the back roads. Some are dressed to impress, some are a little bit spooky, and a few have clearly been raiding the dress-up box. Grab a map, round up the whānau and see how many you can spot before they spot you.

Since it began, the trail has become one of Taranaki’s largest scavenger hunts. Over the years, schools, kindergartens, businesses, farms, and families have dreamt up everything from guardians and mythical beasts to last year’s Guinea Pig Spy and Mr Wheatly.

“The trail has kept going because the community keeps showing up for it, and our creators still manage to surprise us every year,” says Saba Afzal, Stratford District Council Community and Economic Development Manager.

The trail runs for a full month, so visitors to the Stratford A&P Show on 28 and 29 November can also do some scarecrow hunting while they’re in town.

Running alongside the Taranaki Garden Festival, Fringe Garden Festival and Taranaki Arts Trail, the Scarecrow Trail gives visitors to the region another great reason to stop in Stratford district.

How to take part

Trail maps and entry forms are available at Stratford.govt.nz/Scarecrow, or in print from the Stratford Library and Visitor Information Centre, Wai o Rua, and Council’s Service Centre on Miranda Street. Hunters don’t need to find every scarecrow to go in the prize draw.

Prizes are sponsored by CMK Chartered Accountants, New World Stratford, Fulton Hogan and the Stratford Business Association, with Taranaki Electricity Trust supporting the event as a whole.

Best of luck to all those on the hunt!