The Elf on the Shelf® is a cherished Christmas tradition celebrated in households around the world. This November, for a fifth straight year, Santa will send some of these magical Scout Elves from the North Pole to Knoxville, Tennessee to be adopted by over two dozen downtown Knoxville businesses. Families are invited to explore downtown and find where these little Scout Elves have landed each night for a fun-filled holiday scavenger hunt.
The Elf on the Shelf: A Christmas Tradition is a magical story that tells how Santa’s Scout Elves help him manage his nice list. Once a Scout Elf is adopted and named, the elf receives its Christmas magic and can fly to the North Pole each night to tell Santa about the day’s adventures. Each morning the Scout Elf returns to its family and perches in a different place to watch the festive fun, creating a unique family moment. Children love to race around the house and see where their Scout Elf has landed. The best-selling book, which comes in a keepsake box set with one of Santa’s Scout Elves, has sold more than 14 million copies across the globe and was written by mother-daughter duo Carol Aebersold and Chanda Bell. Aebersold, a graduate of the University of Tennessee Knoxville, is delighted that Knoxville will once again host the country’s original community-wide The Elf on the Shelf® scavenger hunt. “We’re looking forward to The Elf on the Shelf Adventure adding to the magic of the season and helping create fun family memories in Downtown Knoxville,” she said. Scout Elves will land in Knoxville to begin the scavenger hunt on Friday, November 27. To help guide them through the adventure, children of all ages are invited to pick up a North Pole Pass at the Knoxville Visitors Center or Mast General Store. The pass includes a list of the elves’ locations and details on the fun-filled holiday experience. As a special treat, Santa has granted permission for these Knoxville Scout Elves to remain in Knoxville until Sunday, January 3. The 2020 event is again sponsored by Mast General Store (the Downtown Knoxville Santa-Approved Scout Elf Adoption Center), the Downtown Knoxville Alliance and Visit Knoxville. The scavenger hunt is part of a season-long, holiday schedule of events in Downtown Knoxville. Information about the scavenger hunt can be found at downtownknox.org/elf. Information about all that’s happening in Downtown Knoxville this holiday season can be found at downtownknox.org/holiday. City-wide holiday events can be found at visitknoxville.com/holidays. For more information about The Elf on the Shelf®, visit elfontheshelf.com.