Spring Hunt

Our Iowa City Spring Scavenger Hunt

April 6 - May 15, 2026

Visit partner businesses, complete a short mission, or use the free weekly entry option to take part in the Spring Scavenger Hunt.

Prize at a glance: 5 weekly $25 drawings plus one final $200 drawing.

No purchase or payment is necessary to enter or win. A purchase or payment of any kind will not increase your chances of winning.

Open to legal Iowa residents age 18 or older. Entry limits apply.

Weekly windows run throughout the season, and the current prize details, rules, and privacy notice stay visible before you enter.

8 local partner stops are live in this spring season.

Choose Your Entry Path

Two ways to enter. One season prize pool.

Jump in from home once each weekly window or stop into a partner business and complete the in-store mission. Both routes feed the same season prize pool described in the Official Rules.

Free Weekly Entry

Enter online once each weekly window

No business visit is required. Submit your name, email, and Iowa residency confirmation through the no-purchase AMOE form.

  • One free AMOE per person per weekly entry window.
  • Each valid AMOE is eligible for that week's drawing and the final season drawing.
  • Rules and privacy details remain visible before submission.
Open free weekly entry

In-Store Entry

Visit a partner stop and complete the mission

Scan the in-store QR code or open a partner entry form below, then submit a mission photo or qualifying public post.

  • One base entry per person per participating business per season.
  • Bonus code-word boosts stay exclusive to designated in-store weeks.
  • Instagram is optional; a direct mission photo is enough.
See partner stops

Official Rules and Privacy Notice

This Season's Prizes

What you can win

Five weekly Downtown Iowa City gift cards and one final season prize are in play this spring, with the same prize details reflected in the Official Rules.

Weekly prize

$25 Downtown Iowa City Gift Card

$25

One winner is drawn during each of the 5 weekly entry windows.

Final season prize

$200 Downtown Iowa City Gift Card

$200

One winner is drawn after the season closes from all eligible season-long entries.

Total season prize value: $325.

Timing

Weekly window

No weekly window is open right now

  • Free weekly entry is available during each of the 5 weekly windows.
  • Each valid AMOE entry is eligible for that week's drawing and the final season drawing.
  • In-store entry is one base entry per person per participating business per season.

How it works

Step 1

Visit a participating business or use the free online entry option

Scan a partner QR code in-store for a prefilled business entry form, or use the free weekly AMOE if you are not entering through a mission stop.

Step 2

Complete the mission or weekly free entry form

In-store entries require mission evidence. AMOE requires only your name, email, and Iowa residency confirmation for the current weekly window.

Step 3

Submit your entry and stay in the season draw

Valid entries are reviewed for the current weekly drawing and the final season drawing. Bonus boosts remain in-store only.

Featured Stops

In-store mission businesses

Every listed stop has a short mission and a direct entry form. Some weeks also include a posted code-word boost for one additional weekly entry.

Featured stop

High Ground Cafe

301 E Market St, Iowa City, IA 52245

Photograph the specials board, pastry case, or another mission sign detail that makes this stop feel distinctly local.

Open entry form

Featured stop

Prairie Lights Books

15 S Dubuque St, Iowa City, IA 52240

Photograph a shelf display, table stack, or window detail highlighted on the mission sign inside Prairie Lights.

Open entry form

Featured stop

Record Collector

125 E Washington St, Iowa City, IA 52240

Photograph the mission sign detail in-store, a featured bin label, or another detail that captures the feel of crate digging downtown.

Open entry form

Featured stop

FilmScene

118 E College St, Iowa City, IA 52240

Photograph the current lineup board, lobby poster wall, or the mission sign detail tied to this week’s FilmScene stop.

Open entry form

Featured stop

Englert Theatre

221 E Washington St, Iowa City, IA 52240

Photograph the marquee, entrance, or another mission-sign detail that signals a recognizable downtown culture stop.

Open entry form

Featured stop

Red Avocado

521 E Washington St, Iowa City, IA 52240

Photograph the menu or a mission-sign detail inside Red Avocado that reflects the stop’s seasonal character.

Open entry form

Featured stop

La Regia Taqueria

520 S Gilbert St, Iowa City, IA 52240

Photograph the mission sign, counter detail, or another on-site visual cue that identifies the stop.

Open entry form

Featured stop

Summit Yoga

820 S Dubuque St, Iowa City, IA 52240

Photograph the welcome area, studio detail, or mission sign inside Summit Yoga to complete this stop.

Open entry form