For a second year, Lexington businesses are engaging in some friendly competition and decorating downtown for October.

40 different scarecrows are decorating light poles around Main Street as part of the contest put on by the Lexington Chamber and the town, each contributed and designed by a local business. The public can vote for their favorite via facebook.com/townoflexingtonsc, which will decide the People’s Choice Award, while another winner will be picked by a panel of judges.

Sorinex, the reigning champ for both awards, is back competing this year as are Hazelwood Brewing Company; the Davis Frawley law firm; Kay Plumbing, Heating & Cooling; RE/MAX Purpose Driven; Cho on Main Salon & Boutique, the Babcock Center; Wonderly Lights; Keg Cowboy; McCutcheon McLean; Charley's Clothing & Apparel; Misty Stathos State Farm Agency; McWhirter, Bellinger and Associates; Bald Cypress Builders; O'Hara's Public House; Colonial Life & Accident Insurance Co.; the Old Mill Brewpub; Lexington Medical Center; Williams, Stitely & Brink; Michelin North America; Splash Omnimedia; Horse Crossing Farm; Nicky's Pizzeria; Carolina Behavior and Beyond; Village Square Theatre; Safe Harbor Insurance Advisors; Barrio Tacos + Tequila + Whiskey; Bland Richter; The Root Cellar; the Lexington County Blowfish; Best Mattress; Wingard’s Market; Ameris Bank; Bela Family Dentistry of White Knoll; Premier Nationwide Lending; Nephron Pharmaceuticals; Mission Lexington; The Courage Center; and Libby’s.

Organizers connected the Chronicle with a few contributing businesses to discuss their scarecrows.

Lexington Medical Center

Lexington Medical Center is dedicating its submission to Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Community Outreach Manager Thomas Tafel explained that the scarecrow is adorned with multiple pink ribbons, flowers with the breast cancer ribbon on top and a sign that says “raising hope” as a way to highlight individuals currently seeking treatment.

“Lexington Medical Center, since its founding, it's a community hospital, first and foremost, and  as a community hospital that is independent and local, we like to consistently be involved in various community organizations, including our chambers of commerce,” Tafel said. “I think it shows goodwill and commitment back to the community.

Wingard’s Market

Wingard’s is one of about seven newcomers to the competition this year.

Co-owner Wally Steinhauser told the Chronicle that he regretted not participating last year, explaining their theme is shrimp and grits, something they sell in the market. The scarecrow depicts a cowboy grit riding a shrimp.

“We did not want to do something traditional which people would have expected, a flower pot, you know, flower arrangements and that kind of stuff,” the owner said. “We wanted to do something different.”

Lexington County Blowfish

The county’s resident collegiate wood bat summer team and 2023 champs of the Coastal Plain League are also participating for the first time, with their “Mr. October” paying tribute to the former Yankee and A’s great Reggie Jackson.

“We kind of tried to find something that you know, that exhibited this family fun aspect that we have here at the ballpark,” Tony Baldwin, the team's general manager, said. “We wanted to highlight the baseball theme throughout with the ‘Mr. October’ moniker on it, and then dressed it up enough to kind of make it look like it was just, you know, kind of a family friendly item that we could put downtown.”

O’Hara’s Public House

The popular pub on Main Street is participating for a second year. 

Owner Matt O’hara told the Chronicle that their character, “Sneaky Shenanigans,” goes along with a customer's time at an Irish pub. The scarecrow itself is three little leprechaun creatures dressed up as if they are a single person looking to make some mayhem.

“This is really a neat thing and you're hard pressed to find one that doesn't either make you smile or make you think,” O’hara said. “There's a significant level of creativity and production value that has gone into the projects.”

Davis Frawley Law Firm

The law firm is competing for a second year with attorney Jeff Anderson telling the Chronicle that the firm thought the project was a great idea and community project.

“Our law firm thought this project was a great idea and a great community project and wanted to participate,” Anderson said, adding that it was the firm's staff members who came up with their Barbie lawyer theme.

The scarecrow sits on a pile of white flowers, pink pumpkins and hay bales and is adorned with an all-pink outfit, blonde hair and a hot-pink suitcase.

Michelin North America

Michelin is back in the competition for a second year

“The Michelin Man, better known as Bibendum in Europe, is one of the most beloved and recognizable mascots in the world and we always enjoy seeing him make our neighbors smile – even when he’s dressed as a scarecrow,” Chris Goumas, site director at the Michelin Lexington Passenger Car Tire Plant, said. “The ‘Mr. Bib Crow’ is a light-hearted example of how our employees take time to get involved in the community and show our love for fun projects that spread happiness in Lexington.”

Goumas stated that the company wanted to participate in the event since it has called Lexington County home since 1981.

Nephron Pharmaceuticals

Nephron is a first-time entrant, with president/CEO/owner Lou Kennedy telling the Chronicle how much she loved the competition last year.

The company’s scarecrow is a witch, with Kennedy explaining that it's meant to represent that Nephron is a woman-owned business. It’s adorned with Nephron Scrubs, glow-in-the-dark fingernails, bedazzled shoes, light-up eyes and is surrounded by an experiment.

“It's a wholesome, fun way to celebrate how cool we are in Lexington and it brings people to Main Street and gives everybody a chuckle,” Kennedy said. “You see the families out walking and hopefully it brings more business to the restaurants and the stores.”