The Under the Harvest Moon one-day festival, set for Oct. 13 in downtown Dowagiac, has preparations under way for special activities and a scarecrow decorating contest to be judged during the festival.

The second annual festival is centered on the display of antique tractors, vendors selling antiques, fall harvest produce, baked goods and handmade merchandise.

The day will also include an in-store sales event, “Harvest the Savings,” which businesses can adapt to their needs, whether it’s a storewide sale or a mark down on a line of merchandise.

The scarecrow decorating contest is designed to help decorate the downtown business district with the seasonal theme.

Businesses located in and around the central business district can purchase bundles of corn stalks at $5 each, bales of hay at $6 each and mums, also at $5 each, to use for decoration. Any business that would like to participate, but is located outside of downtown, will be assigned a downtown lamppost to decorate. Public voting during the festival will determine the winner.

Businesses, merchants and organizations interested in hosting an activity during the festival can contact Vickie Phillipson, with the Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Development Authority, by Aug. 31 at (269) 782-8212.

For more information, or to request contest entry forms, contact the Greater Dowagiac Chamber of Commerce at (269) 782-8212.