A Meaford businessman has been honoured for his role in starting the Scarecrow Invasion 20 years ago.
George Potopnyk says he clearly remembers the first Scarecrow Invasion in 1996, when scarecrows standing outside stores lined the main street of Meaford.
"At that time, I managed to persuade other business owners to make about 80 scarecrows to display outside their stores. Now, Scarecrow volunteers make almost 300," he says.
Potopnyk was one of 60 to 70 guests attending the 20th Anniversary of the Scarecrow Invasion and Family Festival in the gallery of Meaford Hall.
Bruce-Grey Owen Sound MP Larry Miller praised the Scarecrow Invasion volunteers for their energy that enabled the organization to remain strong over the past two decades.
The Scarecrow Invasion parade begins on Sykes St. at 6pm on Friday, and continues to the Rotary Harbour Pavilion for the Family Festival at 6:30pm.
The OPP Golden Helmets open the festivities at 5pm with a pre-parade show on Sykes St.