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National Scavenger Hunt Day

Join the fun and adventure of National Scavenger Hunt Day - hunt for clues, solve puzzles, and win great prizes!

Monday

May 2027

Last updated February 7, 2026 · by the Holiday Calendar Team

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YEARLY DATEMay 24

OBSERVED INUnited States

CATEGORYFun

SUBCATEGORYUnique

INTRO

Introduction

PHOTO

Get ready for a day of adventure, excitement, and discovery on National Scavenger Hunt Day on May 24! This event dates back to the late 1980s and was created as an interactive game that encourages people to explore their surrounding environment. People of all ages can participate in finding hidden treasures, uncovering clues, competing against others or just having a good time with friends.

TIMELINE

National Scavenger Hunt Day Timeline

Inception of Scavenger Hunts

Scavenger hunts, as interactive games, first gained popularity in the late 1980s, encouraging exploration and team building.

First Major Scavenger Hunt

New York City hosts its first significant city-wide scavenger hunt attracting thousands of participants and media attention.

Adoption by Corporate World

Major businesses begin using scavenger hunts as team-building exercises, further popularizing the activity.

Digital Scavenger Hunts Emergence

With the advent of smartphone technology, digital scavenger hunts start becoming trendy, broadening the game's scope and reach.

World Record Scavenger Hunt

The University of Chicago holds the world's largest scavenger hunt, with a record 300 participants.

National Scavenger Hunt Day

National Scavenger Hunt Day is officially recognized and celebrated annually on May 24, further promoting the fun and exciting game nationwide.

GET INVOLVED

How to Celebrate National Scavenger Hunt Day

Organize a neighborhood scavenger hunt

Gather the kids in your neighborhood and organize a scavenger hunt, complete with clues and exciting prizes. You can make it even more fun by letting the kids choose their own teams.

PLAN

Plan an indoor scavenger hunt

Bring the family together for an indoor scavenger hunt. Hide items around the house, create clues and let everyone search for them. It's a great way to get everyone involved in the same activity.

CREATE

Create a photo scavenger hunt

Take your camera out and have a photo scavenger hunt. Create a list of items that need to be photographed, then set off on your journey and see who can find all the items first.

Go on a nature scavenger hunt

Pack up your binoculars and head to a local park or nature trail for a nature scavenger hunt. Make sure you bring along your field guides so you can identify animals, plants, and birds.

HOST

Host an online scavenger hunt

You don't have to leave the house to have fun on National Scavenger Hunt Day! Gather your friends online and host an online scavenger hunt. Create puzzles and challenges that they must complete before they can move onto the next level.

WHY THIS DAY MATTERS

Why We Love National Scavenger Hunt Day

It encourages creativity

Creating a successful scavenger hunt isn't easy! You need to come up with clever riddles, puzzles and challenges that will entertain and challenge participants. This encourages participants to be creative and think outside the box so they can find all of the hidden items on their list!

It's a great way to explore your city

Scavenger hunts are an exciting way to get out and explore the city you live in. Whether it's searching for clues in obscure locations or solving puzzles around town, scavenger hunts can help you discover new places and have fun at the same time!

It fosters teamwork & collaboration

Planning and completing a scavenger hunt requires collaboration between friends and family members. Everyone needs to work together, solve problems, and communicate in order to be successful. This is a great opportunity to teach younger generations important social skills like cooperation and problem solving!

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