Bacares, a mountain village in Almería, puts around 40 handmade scarecrows on display each autumn. Credit Town hall Bacares
For a scarecrow, attracting attention is generally a sign that something has gone wrong. In Bacares, a mountain village in Almería, it is the entire point. Every autumn, the village puts its scarecrows in the streets and invites people to come and find them. This year there are around 40.
The women of Bacares make them by hand. Among their creations are a forest firefighter, a pharmacist and several witches, a combination that would make for a lively village meeting. There are chestnut sellers and musicians too. You’ll find some in the squares and others at the old Fuente Grande washhouse or the eleventh century castle.
Bacares Town Hall, original artwork
The tradition began in 2023 as a way to bring visitors to this corner of the Sierra de los Filabres. The scarecrows have names and backstories, and visitors can scan QR codes to read them. There are more children among the straw figures this year, which may be the easiest population increase a village has ever managed.
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For the people who live there year round, Bacares is also part of a project with four neighbouring villages to make everyday services easier to reach. Read more about the five Almería villages working together.
The trail is free, and the display runs until 6 December. You can start in the village square, then make your way to the washhouse and the castle. If you end up taking the long way round because someone swears there’s another witch up ahead, the scarecrows have done their job. Turismo Almanzora’s trail listing and photos.