Let the Crowing Begin!

IRVINE, Calif., Oct. 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Orange County Great Park invites visitors to vote for their favorite scarecrow at the third annual Scarecrows in the Park contest, which challenges Orange County's businesses and community organizations to show off their creative and philanthropic spirit by building creative, themed scarecrows. The 2012 edition of the fundraising and fun-raising contest features 26 scarecrows – the most in the competition's history – all vying for the title of "Best in Crow." The scarecrows will be on display at the Great Park's Farm + Food Lab at the Great Park's annual Pumpkin Harvest event tomorrow Saturday, October 20 and remain on display through November 4.

How to Vote for "Best in Crow"
There are two ways to vote for "Best in Crow" in this year's event. Winning entries will be recognized at the Great Park Board of Directors meeting in November.

1. Onsite: Visitors to the Great Park's Farm + Food Lab between October 20 and November 4 can vote for their favorite scarecrows on site.
2. Online: Voting will also be available online for the first time. Visitors to the Great Park website at http://www.ocgp.org/pumpkin-harvest/scarecrow-voting can vote for their favorite Scarecrow in the Park and share photos of the scarecrows on Facebook. 

Competition Raises $13,000
More than 40 community organizations and businesses participated in the Scarecrows in the Park contest this year raising $13,000. The $500 entry fee is shared equally by Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County and the Great Park. Each entry helps to underwrite more than 750 meals for hungry families through Second Harvest Food Bank. Proceeds also support the ongoing monthly children's workshop series and educational exhibits at the Great Park Farm + Food Lab. These workshops engage more than 100 children and adults each month with topics that include Eco-Smart Kids, Garden Pollinators and Song Birds of Summer, among others.

2012 Scarecrows in the Park:

The Orange County Great Park is located at Sand Canyon and Marine Way, and can easily be reached by the 5 or 405 freeways.

For more information, visit, please visit www.ocgp.org or call 866-829-3829.

About Second Harvest Food Bank
Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County is working to eliminate hunger in Orange County.  Through a network of more than 470 local member non-profits, the Food Bank distributes more than 18 million pounds of nutritious food each year to our neighbors in need.  Learn more about Second Harvest Food Bank's work in the community – and how you can help – at http://feedoc.org

About the Great Park
Hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over Southern California enjoy the Orange County Great Park's array of recreational and educational opportunities and participate in shared experiences, including panoramic views from the iconic Great Park Balloon that rises 400 feet in the air.  Other Great Park features include the Carousel, Farm + Food Lab, Kids Rock Playground, Walkable Historical Timeline, Palm Court Arts Complex, North Lawn recreation area and historic Hangar 244.  In addition to free sports clinics, gardening workshops, weekly Farmers Market and other community events, the Great Park hosts an annual series of special events that provide unique experiences for the entire family, including the Growing the Park: Anniversary Celebration, Great Park Pumpkin Harvest, Great Night! Family New Year's Eve, and the Flights & Sounds Summer Festival. With its approximate 1,300-acre master plan, the Great Park is the centerpiece of the redevelopment of the publicly-owned portion of the 4,700-acre former Marine Corps Air Station El Toro. For more information, please visit www.ocgp.org.

SOURCE Orange County Great Park