CAPE MAY — Meet “Angry Chef,” Cucina Rosa’s scarecrow dressed in an apron and toque, and Susie Skeleton, Bath Time’s scarecrow clad in the shop’s uniform and clutching a stuffed duck. Both are hanging out at the Washington Street Mall, joined by a dozen or more other straw people, all handmade by merchants on the mall.
For the third year in a row, the Washington Street Mall is decorating its three-block walk with signs of the season. Lampposts have been wrapped with corn stalks. Pumpkins have been delivered to the mall, and customized scarecrows are “standing” by—with some assistance from the lampposts—to welcome visitors and residents to the shops and restaurants on the mall. The promotion runs through November 10.
“It’s nice to see how businesses personalize their scarecrows,” said Brad Vile, creator of Cucina Rosa’s “Angry Chef.” “They’re putting something of themselves out there in the community—literally.”
The straw-fest is the work of the Washington Street Mall’s Business Improvement District (BID), whose members own retail businesses on the mall. The BID stages themed events year-round to promote the mall and its merchants.
Hundreds of children will parade down Washington Street Mall, the starting point for the city’s annual Halloween Parade, on October 20. The parade kicks off at 3 p.m. at the Perry Street end of the mall. Judging begins at 2 p.m. and is limited to real people not made of straw.
“The fall is one of the best times of the year to visit Cape May; thousands of people visit us then,” said Hilary Pritchard, co-owner of Whale’s Tale and Splash. “Decorating the mall helps us advertise that Cape May is open year-round.”
The fall promotion also kicks off holiday shopping at the mall. It’s beginning to look a lot like Halloween. For more details, visit: www.washingtonstreetmall.com.
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