Thanksliving Brunch and Celebration

Thanksliving FOR the Animals

It’s our 11th Annual Thanksliving Celebration at Broken Shovels Farm Sanctuary!

Join us for a day of gratitude, good food, and gentle company as we give thanks for all of the lives saved and the love that fills our sanctuary every day.

Sip a cup of hot cocoa or warm spiced cider and enjoy a special Thanksgiving-themed brunch from WongWayVeg, surrounded by the rescued animals who make this day so meaningful. Together, we’ll share in a feast for the animals — not of them — and celebrate the joy of their forever safety and peace.

This event helps us raise critical winter funds for food, straw, and bedding during the coldest months. Your presence and support truly help keep nearly 500 rescued residents safe and warm through the season ahead.

During your visit, you’ll meet goats, sheep, cows, pigs, water buffaloes, and of course our beloved turkeys — the honorary guests of the day — as they enjoy a Thanksliving feast of their own.

Event Details

✨12–2 PM (animal areas close at 1:30 PM)

✨Brunch available from WongWayVeg, separate from ticket price

✨Meet and celebrate our rescued residents up close

✨All proceeds support winter feed and bedding

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Peas & Love — Caring for All Animals, Including the Human Kind

At Broken Shovels Farm Sanctuary, compassion doesn’t stop at the barn doors. This Thanksliving, we’re extending our gratitude and care to all animals — human and nonhuman alike — by helping ease the burden so many families face right now.

When you join us for our 11th Annual Thanksliving Celebration please consider bringing a few items from your pantry to share with those in need.

Your donations will be delivered to the Lakewood Action Center’s Free Food Market, providing nourishment and essentials to our neighbors who could use a little extra care this season.

Most Needed Items

(Plant-based and nonperishable, please — no glass containers.)

• Cereal and oatmeal
• Cooking oil
• Rice
• Canned soup
• Canned fruit
• Canned or bagged beans
• Peanut butter
• Granola bars
• Pasta and sauce
• Cat and dog food
• Soap
• Deodorant
• Toothpaste and floss
• Hair care
• Feminine products
• Lotion
• Laundry detergent
• Cleaning supplies

All items must be unopened and within six months of their “best by” date.

Together, we can make Thanksliving a celebration of shared compassion — one that fills bellies, hearts, and homes.

Important Info

• Tickets are non-refundable. If severe weather forces a cancellation, we’ll reschedule or honor your ticket at a future event.

• Please arrive on time — we’re unable to extend hours for late arrivals.

• Each guest, regardless of age, must have a ticket.

• No outside food or drink (for humans or animals) is permitted.

• No companion animals are allowed on-site, in cars, or on leashes.

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Visitor Guidelines

Broken Shovels Farm Sanctuary is a safe haven for animals rescued from neglect, slaughter, and exploitation. We do not breed, buy, or sell animals — those born here to rescued mothers will remain together and loved for life.

Our sanctuary is not a petting zoo, but a home where animals can experience trust, comfort, and respect. Many residents enjoy meeting kind visitors — others prefer space or quiet — and we ask that you honor their boundaries. Please never chase, yell at, or throw anything toward animals.

You may meet residents who are elderly or recovering from illness or injury. Every animal here receives individualized care guided by veterinary specialists, and their well-being always comes first. We welcome your curiosity and questions about their stories and care.

Above all, we ask that you enter their home with gentleness and gratitude — for their forgiveness, resilience, and the lessons they continue to teach us.