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Reindeer Bell Hunt 2026: find nine bells in Locust City Park, Dec. 1–24

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Close-up of shiny silver jingle bells
Events · Locust · Dec. 1–24, 2026

Reindeer Bell Hunt

Santa’s reindeer lost nine bells in Locust City Park. Find them all by Christmas Eve, snap a photo of each, and win a prize.

City event page ↗Locust calendar

Illustrative photo: jingle bells. Photo: John Morgan (Flickr), CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.

Home / Locust / Holiday events / Reindeer Bell Hunt

The bell hunt starts in a few days: Tuesday, Dec. 1 – Thursday, Dec. 24, 2026, during park hours.

WhenTuesday, Dec. 1 – Thursday, Dec. 24, 2026, during park hours
WhereLocust City Park (Officer Jeff Shelton Drive)
CostFree
RegistrationNone. Send photos to jhoneycutt@locustnc.gov or tag City of Locust on Facebook or Instagram
AgesKids and families
QuestionsJessica Honeycutt, jhoneycutt@locustnc.gov
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The story goes that Santa’s reindeer were practicing over Locust City Park and lost their bells. From Dec. 1 to Dec. 24, kids can hunt for all nine reindeer bells hidden in the park.

The rules

  • Do not take the bells. Leave each one where you find it.
  • Take a photo of every bell you find.
  • Email the photos to jhoneycutt@locustnc.gov or tag City of Locust on Facebook or Instagram.
  • Find all nine by Dec. 24 to win a prize. The city will contact parents to pick up prizes after Jan. 1, 2027.

The city says more details will be posted on its events page and social media once the hunt starts.

More Locust holiday events and programs

LocustEventsCommunity calendars
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Restored train station and railway tracks in Albemarle, North Carolina
Albemarle’s restored train station beside railway tracks, photographed in 2019. Photo: Indy beetle · CC0.
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Downtown Badin, photographed in February 2021. Photo: Indy beetle · CC0.
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Brick storefronts along North Main Street in Oakboro, North Carolina
North Main Street in Oakboro, photographed October 2023. Photo: Indy beetle · CC0.
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Stanly County boundary and reference locations for all ten incorporated municipalities1Albemarle2Badin3Locust4Misenheimer5New London6Norwood7Oakboro8Red Cross9Richfield10Stanfield
Geographic orientation: 2025 U.S. Census Bureau county boundaries and municipal Gazetteer reference points. These identify communities, rather than visitor entrances or town halls. Locust also extends into Cabarrus County.
1 Albemarle2 Badin3 Locust4 Misenheimer5 New London6 Norwood7 Oakboro8 Red Cross9 Richfield10 Stanfield
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