A Summer-Long Scavenger Hunt Is Underway in Downtown Tucson: What To Know

TUCSON, AZ — Downtown Tucson is in the middle of a summer-long scavenger hunt of sorts, and there's still plenty of time to jump in.

The Downtown Tucson Summer Passport Challenge launched June 1 and runs through Sept. 7, giving residents nearly three more months to explore local businesses, museums, restaurants and events while working toward a few small rewards along the way.

Passports are available at Tucson Gallery or online.

The self-guided program offers seven different passport options, each built around a different way to experience downtown: the Downtown Explorer Challenge, Foodie Favorites Challenge, Coffee Crawl Challenge, Arts & Culture Challenge, Summer Nights Challenge, Shop Local Challenge and Historic Landmarks Challenge.

Each one comes with an overview, a map of featured locations and a downloadable passport that participants can print and carry with them. People can stick to one challenge or work through several over the course of the summer.

The format is flexible by design. Organizers describe it as a choose-your-own-adventure approach to downtown, whether that means starting the day with coffee, browsing shops and galleries, catching a museum exhibit, meeting friends for dinner, taking in live music or ending the night with dessert and cocktails.

How the Rewards Work

Completing 10 activities on a single passport card earns participants a limited-edition Downtown Tucson sticker and a Tucson Gallery sticker pack at Tucson Gallery. Three different collectible sticker designs will be available over the course of the summer.

Participants who turn in a completed card, with the back filled out, are also entered into a drawing for a $100 Downtown Tucson Gift Card. One winner will be selected after the challenge wraps up in September.

Some activities require a bit more than a visit. Challenges marked with an asterisk need a stamp from the participating business before they count, which participants can collect from employees on-site after completing the activity.

Organizers plan to highlight featured businesses, local events and participant photos on social media throughout the summer, and they're encouraging participants to tag their stops as they work through the challenge.

With more than two months still to go before the Sept. 7 deadline, there's plenty of time to pick up a passport and get started.