Peabody Readies for 41st International Festival Amid Water Restrictions
The city is gearing up for its 41st International Festival on September 27, even as mandatory outdoor water use restrictions remain in place and Peabody Public Schools head into a short week with no classes Monday for Yom Kippur.
TOWN HALL
The 41st International Festival is set for September 27 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to the city's News Flash announcements. Mandatory outdoor water use restrictions remain in effect citywide, and residents can find details on the rain barrel program, which the city has also promoted through its website.
Free fall curbside yard waste pickup will run on five separate weeks this autumn: October 5, October 19, November 2, November 16 and December 7, per the city's posted schedule. Residents should consult the online schedule for their specific collection week.
SCHOOLS
Peabody Public Schools have no classes Monday, September 21, in observance of Yom Kippur, according to the district's event calendar. The School Committee is scheduled to hold its regular meeting September 22, alongside a Quality and Standard Subcommittee meeting and a Safety Subcommittee executive session the same day.
Kindergarten registration for the 2026-2027 school year remains open, the district noted in earlier News Flash-style updates carried on its site.
COMMUNITY & ARTS
Peabody Institute Library continues to offer its full slate of programming across all three branches, including weekly children's storytimes for babies, toddlers and preschoolers. The library's local history collection, including its George Peabody archives and Audubon Birds of America prints, remains on view in the Sutton Room at the Main Library, and its digitized newspaper archive now spans September 1844 through the present, with post-1979 material viewable on library computers only.
ELSEWHERE IN THE NEWS
"TruNorth Bank To Host Free Peabody Paper Shredding Event" reports that North Shore residents can bring up to two boxes of documents for free shredding, according to Peabody Patch (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/peabody).
"Peabody Opens 2026 Discounted Rain Barrel Program" notes residents can buy discounted rain barrels for $85 to $89 with pickup October 17 at Peabody DPS, a program the city's own website also promoted this week, according to Peabody Patch (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/peabody).
"Why a former hostage is coming to speak at Higgins Middle School" signals an upcoming appearance tied to the school, though further details were not included in the preview, according to Peabody Patch (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/peabody).
"Peabody Man Charged With Drug Trafficking, Child Endangerment, Animal Cruelty: Police" describes charges stemming from a six-month investigation into drug activity near Goodale Street, according to Peabody Patch (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/peabody).
"2026 MA Elections: Question 9 Would Codify Stronger State Gun Laws" outlines a statewide ballot question with advocacy groups rallying ahead of the November 3 election, according to Peabody Patch (read it at https://patch.com/massachusetts/peabody).
"Bishop Stang vs Bishop Fenwick | Soccer | 09/23/2026" previews an upcoming girls soccer match involving Bishop Fenwick of Peabody, according to MaxPreps (read it at https://www.maxpreps.com/ma/soccer/girls/match/bishop-fenwick-peabody-vs-bishop-stang-north-dartmouth/jv/9-23-2026/?c=6924e562-7822-47f3-bcb7-8b8f573cc788).
COMING UP
The 41st International Festival takes place September 27 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Peabody Public Schools are closed September 21 for Yom Kippur, with the School Committee, Quality and Standard Subcommittee, and Safety Subcommittee all meeting September 22. Bishop Fenwick's girls soccer team faces Bishop Stang on September 23. Free fall curbside yard waste pickup begins the week of October 5.
Compiled from official town feeds, community organizations, and local press. Outside reporting is attributed inline.