Holiday Hunt in Pioneer Square

A daily ornament drop turns December into a neighborhood-wide scavenger hunt.

A hand holds a small gold gift bag with tissue paper in a store, with shelves, flowers, and a holiday tree visible in the background.

One of 25 little holiday surprises waiting to be found in Pioneer Square this month.

Photo courtesy of Alliance for Pioneer Square

The holidays tend to bring out the kid in all of us. And if opening presents and eating too many treats weren’t enough, there’s also a scavenger hunt in Seattle’s oldest neighborhood.

Pioneer Square’s Holiday Ornament Scavenger Hunt has returned for its third year. Twenty-five handblown glass ornaments—all made at Glasshouse Studio—are hidden across 25 different neighborhood businesses, shops, and galleries from now through Dec. 20. One clue drops each day (sometimes more), and if you reach the right spot at the right time, the ornament is yours to keep.

Clues are released at various times between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. to make the hunt accessible to more people. Ornaments are usually found within minutes, but for anyone who arrives just after the discovery, there are consolation prizes for the next three people. Those prizes are typically gift cards to that business or a neighboring shop. Clues can be found here. The ornaments are also available for purchase at Glasshouse Studio.

“We launched the ornament scavenger hunt as a creative way to bring people into Pioneer Square during a time of year when our small businesses really benefit from added foot traffic,” says Lisa Howard, executive director of the Alliance for Pioneer Square. “It’s a simple, fun way to celebrate the season and support our tight-knit community of small businesses.”

The neighborhood has seen a resurgence this year, especially on First Thursday Art Walk. From May to August, anywhere from 19,000 to more than 47,000 people were in the area on art-walk nights. Even with Mariners or Seahawks games adding to the mix, the increase is significant compared to 2022 and 2023, when monthly counts often sat between 9,000 and 12,000.

Tonight, on First Thursday Art Walk, four ornaments will be placed in various galleries at 6 p.m. Check the clue here, then start looking. Along the way, you can browse art and pick up a few holiday gifts.

If you want to stretch the outing, Pioneer Square has plenty of holiday festivities happening. Mr. Kringle’s Secret Toy Lab is back with its one-hour kids’ adventure. The free ice rink returns to Occidental Square Dec. 13-21. RailSpur is hosting a holiday market Dec. 4-7, and the Holiday Bazaar also returns on Dec. 13.