Scavenger hunt

Registration Opens: Thursday, February 5, 2026

Scavenger Hunt Hours: Friday, February 27th at 5 PM - Saturday, February 28th at 10 PM

hunt for clues, Compete with friends, & test your lowell trivia!

Each year, up to 20 teams and individuals compete in the online WinterFest Scavenger Hunt! This family-fun activity engages the team members with pursuits of historical landmarks, daunting trivia questions, and chases for key WinterFest features. Spots to actively compete are available on a first-come, first-serve basis, so register quick on the Goosechase App using the instructions below.

The City of Lowell’s Office of Cultural Affairs and Special Events (CASE) reserves the right to remove profiles based on inappropriate team names or conduct.

Joining as a team

  1. Download the Goosechase app.

  2. Log in. New to Goosechase? Sign up for an account or play as a guest.

  3. If applicable, search for this experience by code (QX15CF) or name (Lowell WinterFest Scavenger Hunt 2026).

  4. Join an existing team or create your own team. Some teams require a passcode, so check in with your team organizer!

  5. Set yourself apart with a name and photo.

  6. Lastly, click “Save.”

Joining as an Individual

  1. Download the Goosechase app.

  2. Log in. New to Goosechase? Sign up for an account or play as a guest.

  3. If applicable, search for this experience by code (QX15CF) or name (Lowell WinterFest Scavenger Hunt 2026).

  4. Create your player profile or join a pre-created profile. Some pre-created profiles require a passcode!

  5. Set yourself apart with a name and photo.

  6. Lastly, click “Save.”

Time to play!

This year’s Scavenger Hunt will kick off with some warm-up clues on Friday, February 27th at 5 PM and continue during WinterFest on Saturday, February 28th until 10 PM. Some missions won’t be visible until delayed times on Friday and Saturday, and others will expire with time, so keep your eye on the missions list. When you are ready to pursue the missions, follow these steps:

  1. Open the experience on the Goosechase app.

  2. Choose the mission (a.k.a. “clue”). There are three mission categories: Photo, GPS, and Text.

  3. For a Photo Mission, find the answer and snap a live picture to upload! If you would like to give the City of Lowell permission to use your photos for future WinterFest advertisements, please email sboucher@lowellma.gov.

  4. For a GPS Mission, step to the answer and mark off your location!

  5. For a Text Mission, type in the answer to the clue.

Is there a prize? How do you win?

The prize is bragging rights and a shoutout on the Lowell WinterFest website and Facebook page! The winning team or individual will be determined by who has the most points. A running leadership board will be visible during the event, though a reviewal of submissions after WinterFest may result in a change in rewarded points. Notification of the final winners will be announced mid-March. Minor spelling errors on Text Missions are allowed as long as the intended phrase remains understandable and its meaning is not changed.

2025 Winners

  1. The Ghost of Poe — 15,600 points

  2. DIY Lowell Dynamos — 12,800 points

  3. Team Herd — 11,000 points

Leadership board

2024 Winners

  1. Brews and Clues — 18,600 points

  2. The Herd — 11,900 points

  3. photomk — 9,000 points

TECHNIcal Questions

Visit the Goosechase questions & answers page here!

If you have questions while on the pursuit or issues with signing up, please contact sboucher@lowellma.gov.