With the holiday season fast approaching, many people are making their Thanksgiving plans. In California, one farm is offering a unique way to celebrate the holiday — and it might just make your list of things to do. The Gentle Barn, a nonprofit farm in Santa Clarita, is hosting a special event on Thanksgiving Day: turkey cuddling.
While most people associate Thanksgiving with eating turkey, The Gentle Barn is offering an alternative — one that involves getting up close and personal with a live turkey. At this event, guests can cuddle with a turkey that has been rescued by the farm, one that would otherwise have been destined for slaughter. The farm's mission is to show that turkeys are intelligent and compassionate creatures, worthy of love and attention. In previous years, the event also included a Thanksgiving meal, but this time it's all about turkey cuddles and a slice of vegan pie.
Turkey cuddling is just what it sounds like — a chance to hug, feed, and interact with a rescued turkey. The farm, which has additional locations in Nashville, Tennessee, and St. Louis, Missouri, hosts this event at all three of its sites, though the prices may vary by location. Once you make the minimum donation, you get 90 minutes to spend with the turkey, giving it some well-deserved affection. If you’ve ever wondered what happens to those turkeys after the president’s annual turkey pardon, think of this as your chance to cuddle a similar bird.
And don’t worry — these turkeys don’t end up on anyone’s dinner table. After receiving all the love and attention, they continue living their lives at the farm. The Gentle Barn is home to over 200 animals, including cows used for cow-hug therapy sessions. It seems like cuddling is a central theme at this farm, and the animals definitely aren’t short on affection.
In a video shared on their Facebook page, The Gentle Barn explains their goal of encouraging people to rethink holiday traditions. “Just because we’ve always done something a certain way doesn’t mean we always have to,” one woman says. The hope is to inspire people to make more compassionate choices. “We can change our traditions and make them kinder and more gentle. This year, we invite you to visit a Gentle Barn near you and celebrate turkeys.”
If spending time with a friendly, affectionate turkey sounds like your kind of holiday fun, consider visiting one of The Gentle Barn locations on Thanksgiving. It’s a great family activity, especially for kids, and you can still enjoy all the usual Thanksgiving sides — just without the turkey on your plate.