‘Wild Geese: Flock Together’

Fiberglass statues are a roadside staple for a reason—they’re kitschy, they’re fun, and they make for great landmarks. But Pennsylvania’s Juniata River Valley has more than its fair share, with a flock of 51 fiberglass geese (and counting) scattered to the winds.

The Juniata River Valley’s relationship with geese goes way back. In the late 1700s, an early English settler brought a tradition called Goose Day to the area—and boy, did it stick. Also known as Michaelmas Day, the celebration is centered around the belief that eating goose on September 29 will ensure you won’t want for money for a whole year.

To this day, locals still vie for prosperity by eating lucky goose during the holiday. Restaurants commonly add goose to their menus for Goose Day, with variations ranging from traditional goose dinners to hot or cold goose sandwiches with mashed potatoes, or even a smoked goose and waffle dinner. Other Goose Day festivities programmed throughout the month of September include a Goose Day drone light show and pop-up attractions like the “A Goosemas Story” photo op. (Yes, like the classic holiday film.)

The public art project “Wild Geese: Flock Together” pays homage to the valley’s centuries-long love affair with geese. Each goose, which stands five feet tall, is sponsored by a local business and painted by a local artist to reflect the area and its history. The “Eye Spy Goose” watches over the Greater Vision Eye Associates building; a firefighter goose named “Captain Honkers, BFD” guards Burnham Fire Company; and a rural goose named “Harvey the Harvest Goose,” who’s adorned with gourds, cornstalks, and a farmhouse. (The whole thing is organized by the local agency Community Partnerships.)

Just as the project’s title suggests, realizing the vision of “Wild Geese: Flock Together” has required local artists, volunteers, project partners, sponsors, and community members, all down for an outpouring of energy, talent, and financial support. The statues not only honor the special Goose Day tradition, but stand as a testament to the quiet strength of small, tight-knit communities.