SALISBURY — Parks and Recreation Administrator Jenn Roketenetz is hopeful the record for most fairy gnome homes will fall again this year as she looks for more folks to participate in the town’s 10th annual Discovery Walk at Pettengill Farm.
“The feature of the event are the over 200 fairy and gnome houses that we pepper throughout a 1-mile wooded path,” Roketenetz said, adding the record is 268 gnome homes.
Pettengill Farm, located at 45 Ferry Road, has long sold flowers to the region.
With the walk set for the weekend of April 26 and 27, Roketenetz said they are already receiving submissions.
The hundreds of miniature homes that will line the trail come April will be submitted by various members of the community.
“They are created by kids, families, professionals, landscapers, businesses, Girl Scout troops, Boy Scout troops. Some people do it to get their name out there, some people do it for the magic,” Roketenetz said.
There are very few restrictions when it comes to making the homes.
“We do ask that you don’t use anything that’s water soluble because the event is rain or shine,” Roketenetz said.
She said the event has become incredibly popular.
“We have people come to the event from all over the country and we’ve actually had people from kind of the country come to the event,” Roketenetz said.
Roketenetz shared her gratitude to Pettengill Farm for continuing to host.
“You experience almost like a snippet of all the best that Salisbury has to offer, so you’re out in the woods, and you kind of have that whimsical feeling,” Roketenetz said.
Selectman and Parks and Rec member Michael Colburn said the event is one of the “best things” Salisbury does, describing Roketenetz as one of the city’s top employees.
“She is always trying to come up with ways to engage the community and get people together and just remember how great life is,” Colburn said.
In addition to the Discovery Walk, for the third year in a row there will also be an art stroll featuring a variety of local artists.
“On the lawns I have about maybe 70-something spaces for artists to show and run their work. Some of them come for one day, some of them come for the weekend,” Roketenetz said.
Art displays include jewelry, pottery and paintings, watercolors, and resin art.
“All different mediums. We usually have a really wide variety of quality art,” Roketenetz said.
There will also be a revolving stage of music.
“This year we’re doing something a little bit different, so on Saturday we’ll have adult performers, but on Sunday we are going to feature local youth musicians and band,” Roketenetz said.
Single tickets are $8 while a family of four can get in for $25. All proceeds benefit the Parks and Recreation Commission and Salisbury Elementary School.
Those looking to get involved should visit: fairygnomewalk.weebly.com.
Matt Petry covers Amesbury and Salisbury for The Daily News of Newburyport. Email him at: mpetry@northofboston.com.