A small rubber duck hidden on a downtown bench during a mini-scavenger hunt

Ongoing Initiatives

Mini-Scavenger Hunts

Small free seasonal scavenger hunts, like rubber ducks hidden on benches, that give Rochester NH families a reason to explore downtown.

Not every hunt needs a Bigfoot. Throughout the year we run smaller seasonal scavenger hunts, like tiny rubber ducks hidden on benches, windowsills, and railings, that give families a fun reason to explore Main Street in every season.

How a mini-hunt works

The idea is a five-minute adventure: we hide a flock of ducks around the downtown, announce it on Facebook, and families stroll the district to find them. Kids check the usual suspects, benches, railings, window ledges, the edges of Central Square, and discover a few storefronts they’ve never noticed along the way. No sign-up, no cost, no time limit; the downtown is the game board.

The bigger cousin

Mini-hunts are the little sibling of the Bigfoot Scavenger Hunt, our summer-long tradition of painted Bigfoot cutouts hidden across the district. Between the two, there’s a hunt running in downtown Rochester most of the year, and the mini-hunts keep the habit alive in the seasons Bigfoot sleeps.

Want to hide a batch for your own kids’ group, or sponsor a season of ducks? Send us a note.

Mini-Scavenger Hunts: your questions answered

How do I find out when a mini-hunt is live?

We announce them on the Rochester Main Street Facebook page, usually the same day the ducks go out. Follow the page and you'll catch every hunt of the season.

Do the mini-hunts cost anything?

No. Like the Bigfoot Scavenger Hunt, they are free for families of all ages, kept that way by sponsors and donations.