Halifax 
Every fall, Mahone Bay transforms into a whimsical showcase of scarecrows. From benches and balconies to shop windows, hundreds of handcrafted figures appear across town, each with its own quirky personality.
Credit: ourism Nova Scotia / Photographer: Hike Bike Travel / Leigh McAdam
Visitors can take a five-minute stroll through town and encounter puffins curling with pumpkins, mermaids at the Aquatic Garden, or larger-than-life characters perched in shop windows.
The festival runs from September 26 to October 13, with scarecrows displayed daily across the seaside town. Activities add to the atmosphere, offering plenty of ways to enjoy autumn in Nova Scotia.
Opening weekend begins Friday, September 26, with the Pumpkin Patch Gallery, where you can see glowing Jack-o-lanterns at Jubilee Park from 7–8:30 p.m. On Saturday, September 27, Mahone Bay Centre launches its Giant Book Sale at 10 a.m., while St. John’s Church holds a yard sale and bake sale starting at 9 a.m. The Mahone Bay Museum runs free children’s activities both days. That evening, Jubilee Park lights up again with the Pumpkin Patch Gallery at 7–8:30 p.m.
Credit: Tourism Nova Scotia / Photographer: Jessica Emin
Food lovers can enjoy the free Town Corn Boil on Orchard Street at noon on September 27, brunch at the Legion on Sunday, September 28, from 9 a.m., or the Baked Bean & Brown Bread Luncheon at St. James’ Parish Hall on Saturday, October 4, at 11:30 a.m.
October 4 also features the Annual Pie Contest and Sale at Mahone Bay Centre beginning at 11:30 a.m. Families can join Tiny Seedlings’ Mashup Kids Dance Party at the Centre from 3–5 p.m. On Sunday, October 5, the Faerie Tea at the Faerie Trails runs 2–4 p.m.
Plus, Thanksgiving weekend will feature fun activities for kids at Mahone Bay Museum.
With more than 20 participating sites—from museums and churches to shops like Amos Pewter and Spill the Tea—the festival blends creativity, heritage, and community traditions into one of Nova Scotia’s most popular fall events.
Credit: Tourism Nova Scotia / Photographer: Jessica Emin
Trip Planning – Mahone Bay Scarecrow Festival
What: Mahone Bay is once again filling its streets with hundreds of quirky scarecrows, from pop culture icons like Forrest Gump and Taylor Swift to classics such as Waldo and Cruella de Vil. Visitors can take a five-minute stroll through town and encounter puffins curling with pumpkins, mermaids at the Aquatic Garden, or larger-than-life characters perched in shop windows.
When: September 26 to October 13, 2025
Where:
Various Locations, Mahone Bay
- Mahone Bay Centre – 45 School St
- Jubilee Park – 6 Pond St
- Mahone Bay Legion – 21 Pond St
- Mahone Bay Museum – 578 Main St
- Famous Town – 16 Orchard St
- St. James’ Church Hall – 14 Parish St
- St. John’s Church – 89 Edgewater St
- Trinity United Church – 101 Edgewater St
- Michael O’Connor Memorial Bandstand – Main St
- The Teazer – 21 Edgewater St
- Suttles & Seawinds – 466 Main St
- Spill the Tea – 503 Main St
- Amos Pewter – 589 Main St
- Sweet Ride Cycling – 523 Main St
- Timeless Transitions – 249 Edgewater St
- Oak Island Resort – 36 Treasure Dr, Western Shore
- Northern Sun – 8 Edgewater St
- Lighthouse Market & Saltwater – 617 and 619 Main St
- Oak Island Legend – 6692 NS3 and 5 Oak Island Dr
- Faerie Trails of Mahone Bay – Entrance, 35 Clairmont St
- Really Awesome Bad Portraits – 8 Edgewater St
