This free scavenger hunt challenges you to find 15 hidden gnomes. The prize is worth $300
You may have noticed colorful gnomes hidden around downtown Gig Harbor.
The Gig Harbor Downtown Waterfront Alliance has created a new free holiday scavenger hunt, where you could win a prize worth $300 if you find 15 gnomes.
Gnomes dressed in every color are hiding throughout the waterfront business district for you to find as of Dec. 1.
Carrianne Ekberg, executive director of the GHDWA, told the Gateway Friday that they hid 48 gnomes.
How the gnome scavenger hunt works
Visit ghdwa.org/gnome-hunt to download and print your “Gnome Place Like Home Scavenger Hunt Passport.”
You’ll find the Scavenger Hunt map on the website, which shows you 19 different participating businesses and locations where you can find hidden gnomes.
There are at least one or two hidden gnomes at each location, according to the Gig Harbor Downtown Waterfront Alliance. When you find a gnome, ask the retail merchant to mark your passport.
Once you find at least 15 gnomes, take a picture of your passport and upload it to ghdwa.org/gnome-hunt. That will count as your entry for the raffle prize, a $300 gift basket filled with goods, put together by Kooley and Co. from Windermere Real Estate.
You’ll also be entered for a chance to win one of the hidden gnomes. GHDWA will draw names to give away 15 of the hidden gnomes.
Passports must be uploaded by midnight on Dec. 31. Only one passport per person is allowed.
This is not the first time gnomes have been hidden around Gig Harbor. Back in 2021, the city of Gig Harbor funded “Gnomes Away From Home,” which was a similar scavenger hunt.
“Gnome Place Like Home” is the first gnome scavenger hunt hosted by the GHDWA as part of their Holidays in the Harbor roundup.
New holiday village at Donkey Creek
Eckburg also said that the GHDWA’s new Holiday Village at Donkey Creek Park at 8714 N. Harborview Dr. opened Dec. 1.
Inside the village are lighted photo op displays.
Santa will be at the village from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. on Dec. 9, 10, 16 and 17.
Visiting the village is free, but you’ll need to bring your own camera to take pictures at the displays or with Santa.
This story was originally published December 1, 2023 at 1:46 PM.
