Coupeville will be the center of life on Whidbey Island this weekend as the little town on Central Whidbey hosts a myriad of events over two days.

Enjoy the last hurrah of the Farmers Market for 2004, enjoy the Uniquely Whidbey Trade Fair and Home Show, tour bed and breakfast establishments, or just take a gander at the scarecrows lining Main Street.

Folks will have one more chance to take advantage of the produce, arts and crafts that are the staples of the Coupeville Farmers Market this weekend.

The last day of the market is one of the numerous activities taking place this weekend throughout Coupeville during HarvestFest.

To celebrate the end of the market season, customers will enjoy a harvest feast featuring local food. Dave Thomas, president of Coupeville Farmers Market, said Penn Cove mussels, chicken on a stick and a variety of apple and pumpkin pies will be available during the feast. Proceeds will benefit the market.

Coupeville Farmers Market will also have activities for the kids during the festival, ranging from zucchini races to target shooting with marshmallow guns.

“It’s real cool,” Thomas said of the marshmallow guns.

To mark the end of the season, Coupeville Farmers Market is extending their hours from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

On the south side of Main Street, a host of activities will be taking place near the high school.

A highlight at the HarvestFest will be the giant pumpkin contest beginning at 12:30 p.m. Saturday next to the main gymnasium. In addition to awards for the giant pumpkin, recognition will go to the prettiest and ugliest gourds and a surprise category, said Lee Roof, contest organizer.

Roof won last year’s contest with a 650-pound entry. He has a bit more modest entry this year and doesn’t expect to win.

A pumpkin pie contest will also take place.

Festival-goers will see a new twist this year — a giant zucchini contest.

“Anyone can grow a zucchini and let’s see how big they can get,” Roof said.

Alongside the gourd-related contests is the 13th annual Uniquely Whidbey Trade Fair and Home Show.

The show features 125 businesses on Whidbey Island.

“It’s huge. We get an average of 4,000 people attending,” said Sharon Hart, executive director of Island County Economic Development Council.

The trade show is only open to Whidbey Island businesses. Hart said she gets calls from businesses off the island wanting to participate but she turns them away.

“It has to be a Whidbey Island business,” Hart said. “It’s a great way to learn about the depth of service on the island.”

The Uniquely Whidbey Trade Fair and Home Show takes place both Oct. 9 and Oct. 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Also happening during the HarvestFest is the Bed and Breakfast Tour and Tastes set for Oct. 10 from noon to 5 p.m.

People must pay $15 for a ticket and will receive a map outlining the tour. The tour is self-guided and people will enjoy some treats at each stop. Tickets must be purchased in advance, call 678-5434.

Visitors to Coupeville will notice scarecrows lining Main Street.

The homemade scarecrows must be in place by 8 a.m., Oct. 9 and will remain until Oct. 24. A panel of judges will rate each scarecrow on creativity and durability over the 15-day competition.

It’s harvest time

Coupeville Farmers Market: Saturday, Oct. 9, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., corner of Eighth and Main streets.

Giant pumpkin contest: Saturday, Oct. 9, 12:30 p.m., Coupeville High School gymnasium.

Harvest-time Bed and Breakfast Tour and Tastes: Sunday, Oct. 10 noon to 5 p.m. For tickets, call 678-5434.

Uniquely Whidbey Trade Fair and Home Show: Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 9 and Oct. 10, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Coupeville High School campus.