Is your family competitive? Is racing a Thanksgiving tradition? Are you looking for socially distant holiday fun? If so, then the Peabody Recreation Department’s Third Annual Turkey Hunt is for you.
The event, which will be held on Saturday, Nov. 19 starting at 10 a.m., features a family scavenger hunt in which you can compete against other families for one of three chances to win a free turkey for Thanksgiving.
The department will be hiding 12 turkeys (signs with turkeys on them) at various locations throughout the city. At 10 a.m. contestants will be emailed a list of clues. Your job is to find as many turkeys as you can.
At each turkey stop, you will find a stamp. At some stations there will be a stamp affixed to the turkey; at others, a volunteer will ask your team to complete a task in order to receive the stamp for that turkey. Once you find or earn the stamp, write it on your game card.
Some clues can be tricky. If you get stumped during the hunt, call our turkey hotline (978)-536-7130. Tom the turkey will have 3 hints per family. As turkeys get claimed, Tom will also be posting updates on Peabody Recreation’s Facebook Page. Stay tuned.
The first three families to return to the Recreation Department (50 Farm Ave) with all 12 stamps written on their game cards will win a Thanksgiving turkey. Don’t get to all 12 turkeys by 12 p.m.? Celebrate the ones you were able to find, but don’t keep looking for the rest. The volunteers will be leaving with their signs at 12 p.m.
Register only one person to represent your family or team. Registration closes on Thursday, Nov. 17. The contest fee is $10 per family/team.
Participants must log onto the Rec’s website and print their game cards before the hunt begins.
If you do not have a printer, we can print a game card for you to pick up in advance. Simply call the department at 978-536-7130 to arrange for the Rec Department to print game cards.
Safety is a must. Participants are to observe all rules of the toad. All family members must wear a mask when outside of the car. Families must stay together during the hunt. Only one car per family is allowed.
To register for this program or any other Rec programs or for additional information, go to https://peabodyma.myrec.com/.
Gingerbread workshops
Dec. 6, 8, 13, 15
Making gingerbread houses is always one of the highlights of the holiday season. Once again, Rec will be holding after-school workshops at The Meadow at Peabody Golf Course from 4:30-6 p.m. for grades K-2 (Dec. 8), grades 3-5 (Dec. 13) and grades 6-8 (Dec. 15).
In addition, there will be an adult-child (ages 3-6) session on Tuesday, Dec. 6 from 1-2:30 p.m. Parents are expected to remain with their children.
In all other sessions, parents are welcome to stay and help their child(ren) or leave during the class. Early registration recommended for this very popular program. The cost is $25 for residents and $30 for nonresidents.
Gnome-making workshops
Nov. 30, Dec. 14
Join Peabody Recreation and Danvers Recreation/Endicott Park Staff for a super fun holiday workshop! We will use fresh evergreen boughs to make an adorable evergreen gnome decoration for your garden or front steps this winter.
Limited space is still available in both communities.
The workshop for ages 10 and up will be held in the clubhouse at The Meadow at Peabody Golf Course, 80 Granite St. on Wednesday, Nov. 30 from 6:30-7:30 p.m. The workshop will also be held Wednesday, Dec. 14 from 6:30-7:30 in the carriage house at Endicott Park, 57 Forest St. Danvers. The fee for all sessions is $45 for residents and nonresidents. Wire cutters or old scissors and a pair of gardening or leather gloves is recommended.
Santa Calling
Dec. 14
Watch the excitement when your child receives a call from Santa Claus. Santa wants to make your child feel special this holiday season with an unforgettable gift – A personalized phone call from Jolly Old St. Nick. Watch their eyes light up with amazement and surprise as Santa lets them know how special they are when he calls on Wednesday, Dec. 8 between the hours of 5:30-7:30 p.m. If Santa misses you, he will leave a message. This program is geared towards children ages 3-10.
Due to the overwhelming popularity of this program, this program is open to Peabody children only and spaces are limited. Once this program sells out, we encourage parents to put their children on the waiting list. If Santa has time, he will do his best to call children on the waiting list, but he cannot guarantee a call.
Please note, Santa might be calling from his cell phone. The caller ID will likely appear as restricted, so please pick up restricted numbers during the calling time so you do not miss your call.
There is no charge to register.
Elf tryouts
Dec. 17
Being an elf is hard work. Is your child qualified? Find out at the Rec’s Elf tryout session at the Higgins Middle School. All aspiring elves will be put to the test to see if they have what it takes to be Santa’s elf. They will be challenged in all elf disciplines including cookie decorating, present wrapping, toy making, and more!
All children who complete the tryout will receive a call from Santa to let them know if they passed his test. If they do, they will be given a special task to help out Santa. Come dressed in holiday outfits for bonus points.
Regardless of the outcome, which will likely be positive, children will have a merry time attempting the elf tryout challenges! Plus, every participant will be leaving with holiday spirit and a toy they built themselves!
This program is geared for children ages 4-10 but Santa is flexible on the ages if you think your child is ready to be an elf.
Advanced registration is required and limited spaces are available.
When registering, be sure to change the drop down bar at the top to find an available time slot. The cost is $25 per resident elves and $30 for nonresident elves.
Up to eight elves are allowed to register for the same time slot. One-hour time slots begin at 10 a.m. with the final slot starting at 12 p.m. If you’re unfamiliar with the other elves in your time slot, we will stagger your start time that morning.
