Uptown GR's holiday elf hunt is back for a fourth year, and this time the elves are small enough to tuck behind a counter instead of print on a flyer. The all-ages contest runs Nov. 19 through Dec. 18 across participating businesses on Grand Rapids' east side.
Players need at least 20 uniquely named elves on an official card, then a completed entry in a random drawing. MLive reports that five winners will each get a $150 gift card to an Uptown business of their choice, and that the hunt now stretches a full month rather than the shorter windows of earlier years.
How The Hunt Works
Uptown GR organized the contest as a walk through dozens of participating shops. Each player gets a card and records the names of the elves they find. Twenty is the minimum for a valid entry, not a suggestion.
Official cards are available for pickup, and finished cards go back for the raffle, at Sticky Fingers or Vintage Charm. The drawing happens after the hunt closes on Dec. 18.
Ingrid Miller invited elf hunters of all ages to walk the festive streets and find a new favorite stop. She also described Uptown GR's role as supporting local businesses and fostering a diverse, welcoming district.
Dolls Instead Of Printed Elves
The hide-and-seek piece has changed. Tiny elf dolls replace the printed elf images used in previous years, so the search is for small figures rather than paper cutouts.
MLive reports the hunt has grown steadily over three consecutive years, with more businesses and more players joining in. A longer calendar and physical dolls are the visible changes this season; the prize structure stays at five cards worth $150 each.
Shop Hop On Dec. 3
The scavenger hunt overlaps Uptown's 29th annual Shop Hop on Thursday, Dec. 3. Uptown Grand Rapids has the holiday shopping experience starting at 3 p.m., with free trolley rides between districts.
Uptown covers four business districts. The trolley is the practical link for anyone trying to cover more than one neighborhood in an afternoon, whether they are hunting elves, shopping, or both. The Shop Hop itself is a one-day event inside a hunt that keeps going until Dec. 18.
What To Do Before Nov. 19
Cards are the entry ticket. Pick one up at Sticky Fingers or Vintage Charm, then start looking once the elves are out on Nov. 19. There is no published roster here of every shop taking part, so the card and the two drop-off spots are the working map.
Find 20 named elves, turn the card in at one of those two businesses, and wait for the drawing. Five people walk away with $150 to spend at an Uptown business they choose.
