It’s that time of year again.  Time for leaves to show their fall colors, red, gold, and orange. Time for pumpkins and late blooming flowers. Time for flu shots and sniffles. And to usher out the month, Halloween. In Landrum, October means the Scarecrow Contest is heating up.

The Scarecrow Contest is a big event.  It began three years ago. Linda Howard of Carolina Antiques and Southern Delights, organizer of the contest, tells me that the first year 20 businesses entered, hoping to attract some attention to downtown during a traditionally slow month for shops.  The second year saw 37 entries join in and this year 43 establishments are competing to win prizes.

Linda explains, “It’s a time to enjoy fall in Landrum. People can browse the shops and pick up ballots to vote for their favorite scarecrows. Once the ballot is completed, they drop it in one of the kiosks by Hare and Hound or Elaine’s Attic.”

She adds, “The Halloween Stroll will take place at October 31, 5 p.m., Halloween night, passing down Rutherford and Trade Streets, collecting candy from merchants. Tables are planned on Trade to hand out candy, along with apple bobbing, a fortune teller, and the costume contest at 6:30, with winners announced at the depot.”

It will be a fun and sc-sc-scary night for all!

While wandering the streets and checking out scarecrows, take a little extra time to linger in the shops.  Landrum’s downtown is bustling with antiques, clothes, furniture, herbs and spices, and delicious places to eat.

Two new shops have recently opened their doors, Perry Ltd and P3 Consignments. Perry Limited specializes in kitchenware and home goods. The owner relocated to Landrum earlier this year from Tryon. The chef scarecrow, adorning the front of the shop, reflects the theme of the store.

P3, formerly Vera’s, just relocated to downtown from Hwy. 176, changing the name to reflect their non-profit mission. The 3P’s — Paws, Prayers, and Promises — represents the owners’ (Kelly Vinesett and Yvonne Bebber) love for animals. Profits will be donated to spay/neuter funds, animal shelters, and other organizations specializing in helping animals. Two loving cats greet you upon entry. Winston, a charming gray kitty and Gabe, a sweet tiger, offer up some “meows.” A large black cat scarecrow welcomes you into the store.

Big orange pumpkins, scarecrows, shuffling through fallen leaves, dreaming up a Halloween costume, clay pots of yellow and rust colored mums—no wonder October was voted everyone’s favorite month in a recent poll. The flu shot — not so much!