Gardner Village makes the holidays a lot of fun. Every season they have different displays that are FREE for families to walk around and enjoy. During Christmas season, you can see the Gardner Village Elves. The elves are set up all around the village for you to find. And the village is a quaint, historic place to visit. The elves will be around from November 21 – December 31, 2026.
Gardner Village creates a scavenger hunt for families to find the elves. They also have an online version that you can access with a QR code at the village. My little kids loved being able to carry their own around. They do not print them out, so you will have to print them on your own. Here is the 2026 scavenger hunt printable.
This was a good day activity, and even though it was really cold, we walked around looking for elves and ducking into shops whenever we felt cold. There are lots of interesting shops for toys and games, candy, and books, as well as a bakery and a restaurant.
We recommend this activity for those of you wanting to get out of the house for a while even though it is close to winter. It’s a nice daytime walk when it is a little warmer, but the village is lit up at night which is also really beautiful. So grab a clipboard, pencil, print the scavenger hunt, and have fun with Gardner Village Elves. Oh, and wear some little gloves so all those little hands stay warm when they are working on their scavenger hunt.
Gardner Village is a fun spot to visit even without the elves. The village has many historic buildings with markers, as well as great spots for photos. There are also a bunch of ducks to feed, which is my boys’ favorite part of the trip to Gardner Village. You can buy duck food in the Chocolate Covered Wagon. Make sure to wear an ugly sweater and stop at the Chocolate Covered Wagon because they will give you free hot cocoa. We also love the covered bridges.
Make sure to visit Gardner Village at other times throughout the year. They have witches in October, fairies in June, and an historic scavenger hunt that you can do anytime of year.
Tips for Families
- Print the scavenger hunt beforehand. They are only asking for one per family/group now.
- Bring a clipboard and pencil. This makes it so much easier for kids, and my boys think it is so cool to walk around with a clipboard.
- Wear gloves to keep hands warm while they write answers down.
- Dress for the weather! It will be chilly and the scavenger hunt is all outside.
- Have fun and take lots of pictures.
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