Peabody Main Street and Peabody merchants invite everyone downtown Saturday for special events to welcome the holiday season.

Peabody Community Quilt Project members will be hosting a holiday bazaar of handcrafted quilted items from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Peabody Senior Center. The group meets weekly to stitch quilts, table runners, wall-hangings, baby items, lap throws, and other unique decorative pieces. Many on display and for sale Saturday will have a Christmas theme.

The group uses money from the sale of quilted pieces to support different projects that enhance the Peabody community.

“We all enjoy getting together to quilt and create,” organizer Susie Schmidt said. “This gives us an excuse to spend some time doing that and help out with community projects at the same time.”

Peabody Main Street will host a cookie walk 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the south room of the senior center. Dozens of cookies will be for sale by the pound, baked by some of the best cooks in Peabody.

“I am not baking any cookies,” Main Street Director Shane Marler said. “But I have heard the word ‘decadent’ tossed around in planning discussions about the cookie walk.

“I’m planning on being needed in that general area several times on Saturday. ‘Decadent’ sounds like something I might want to investigate.”

Peabody-Burns Recreation Commission will be in charge of a candy cane hunt for district children from 4:30 to 5 p.m. at Santa Fe Park and the Marshall Auction property on South Walnut Street.

Rides in an old-fashioned horse-drawn carriage will be offered 5 to 8:30 p.m., leaving from the American Legion. Cost for the rides will be by donation.

A community Christmas dinner with entertainment by the Greenhorns will begin at 6 p.m. at the American Legion. Both will last until 8 p.m., with a brief intermission at 7 p.m. for a wreath auction. Santa Claus will be at the dinner and concert to visit with families.

“The Greenhorns were a big hit last year,” Marler said. “They are good family entertainment.”

Cost for the community dinner is $10, with children 12 and younger eat free with an adult purchase.

Twelve Christmas wreaths will be auctioned to help defray the cost of the holiday event.

“We hope to see everyone downtown on Saturday,” Marler said. “One of the best parts of small town living is being able to enjoy these kinds of events with neighbors, friends, and family.

“Of course, during the day the businesses will be open,” he said. “This is a great chance to shop without the hustle and bustle of mall crowds and limited parking. We hope everyone will at least take a look at what Peabody merchants have to offer.”

For more information, go to the Main Street Web site at www.peabodymainstreet.com.