St. Louis Park has kicked off its whimsical New Year's gnome-search, a playful scavenger hunt running throughout January. The unique local event, now in its first week, invites participants to scour the city parks for hidden gnomes. According to the official announcement, this week's hunt focuses on locating a gnome named Dorothea, using a set of cryptic clues provided by the organizers.

This year's hunt features a new gnome each week, who once placed, will remain in its strategic location until the game wraps up. A culmination of the festivities in the final week will group all the gnomes together in one undisclosed location. To streamline the gnome-tracking process, the city dispenses fresh clues every Tuesday morning via social media platforms such as Facebook, X (formerly known as Twitter), and Instagram (@stlouispark), as well as through GovDelivery emails.

In the spirit of the hunt, participants are encouraged to snap photos with these elusive gnomes once found — rumor has it that a photo op might just win you a slice of gnome-style luck. As part of the community event, photo-touting treasure finders are urged to share their victory shots on the weekly clue posts on social platforms. Just remember to play fair: the gnomes are there for everyone's pleasure, so let them stay where they are for the next lucky searcher to find.

No one said nailing down the gnomes' hiding spots is an easy feat, but seekers in need of some guidance can swing by the St. Louis Park Historical Society's website for a hint or two. And if you're not familiar with all the city's green spaces, there's a helpful directory on the city’s official website to point you in the right direction.