Wiscasset Community Center’s guest services manager Bonnie Blagden’s favorite part of the annual scarecrow festival is seeing the people come out for it.

“It’s family time, and it’s inexpensive family time,” Blagden said Oct. 8. “We have some families that come out every year.”

This year’s chance to build a scarecrow for the municipal building lawn, or to take home, comes this Saturday, Oct. 17, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the municipal building. The event is the first of a series of seasonal traditions the Wiscasset Parks and Recreation Department is getting ready to roll out once again.

Touch-a-truck featuring local public safety vehicles will be back at the scarecrow event, after a couple years’ hiatus. Also look for a children’s coloring contest and the Wiscasset All Sports Boosters’ bake sale.

The cost to build a scarecrow for display on the municipal building lawn is $5; building one to take home costs $10.

The Halloween Raven Egg Hunt is on for Friday, Oct. 23 at the community center. Thousands of eggs will be spread over a field where participants will search for them by flashlight. As in years past, a friendly witch will lead egg-seekers along the decorated path to the back field, according to Blagden and an event flier.

Magician “Conjuring Carroll” is returning to entertain event-goers with a show before the hunt. The cost for the night’s activities is $6 per child in advance, or $8 per child at the door. Children under 12 need an adult with them.

An advance ticket gains entry into a prize drawing.

The Halloween Ghosts and Goblins Parade on Saturday, Oct. 31 keeps its traditional starting point, the former Wiscasset Middle School, now Wiscasset Elementary School. Lineup is at 4 p.m. The first 200 children get goody bags and safety glow sticks. The parade heads out onto Federal Street at 4:30 p.m., then takes Washington and Union streets back to Federal Street, recreation department staff said. 

Plans call for the parade to have help from Wiscasset’s fire and police departments. Fire Chief T.J. Merry always looks forward to seeing the kids and the costumes. “Definitely. Those kids have a blast,” he said.

For more information on any of the events, call the recreation department at 207-882-8230 or visit www.wiscassetrec.com.