The Elf on the Shelf® is a cherished Christmas tradition celebrated in households around the world. This November, for a third 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 about how Santa’s Scout Elves help him manage his naughty and nice lists. 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 number one best-selling book, which comes in a keepsake box set with one of Santa’s Scout Elves, has sold more than 12 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 only 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 23. Children of all ages are invited to pick up a North Pole Pass at any of the participating businesses to help guide them through the adventure. Children and children at heart will find fun, treats, and prizes along the way. As a special treat, Santa has granted permission for these Knoxville Scout Elves to remain in Knoxville until Sunday, January 6.
The 2018 event is again sponsored by Mast General Store (the Downtown Knoxville Santa-Approved Scout Elf Adoption Center), the Downtown Knoxville Central Business Improvement District (CBID) and Visit Knoxville.
