Victoria Day Long Weekend: How Canadian Cities Can Run Downtown Scavenger Hunts and Tourism Activations

Victoria Day (Monday, May 18, 2026) marks the unofficial start of summer in Canada. It is a long weekend when families head out, cottages open up, and downtowns see a surge of visitors looking for things to do.

For downtown business improvement areas (BIAs), tourism boards, and city event planners, Victoria Day is a prime opportunity to drive foot traffic, showcase local businesses, and create a memorable community experience. But the traditional approach — a street festival or fireworks display — requires permits, insurance, staffing, and a significant budget.

A browser-based downtown scavenger hunt offers a lighter, more flexible alternative. It runs across the full long weekend, works with existing foot traffic, and costs a fraction of a traditional event. No app download required.

This article walks you through planning a Victoria Day downtown scavenger hunt, from route design to business participation to day-of execution.

Why Victoria Day Works for a Downtown Scavenger Hunt

Long weekend traffic. People have extra time and are looking for activities. A scavenger hunt gives them a reason to explore downtown rather than just passing through.

Family-friendly. Victoria Day is a family holiday. A well-designed hunt works for all ages, with tasks that kids and adults can enjoy together.

Business activation. Local shops, restaurants, and attractions can participate as stop locations. Each visit is a potential sale.

Weather window. Mid-May in most of Canada offers decent weather for outdoor activities. The hunt can include both indoor and outdoor stops.

Step 1: Define Your Route and Theme

A downtown scavenger hunt for Victoria Day should cover a walkable area — typically 1-2 kilometers with 8-12 stops. Here are three theme options:

Option A: "Discover Downtown"
A general exploration route that highlights landmarks, public art, parks, and key businesses. Best for cities with a compact downtown core.

Option B: "Shop Local Trail"
A shopping-focused route that guides participants through retail districts, with tasks at each participating store. Best for BIAs wanting to drive retail traffic.

Option C: "History Hunt"
A heritage-focused route that visits historical sites, plaques, and buildings. Best for cities with a strong historical identity.

Step 2: Recruit Participating Businesses

The success of a downtown scavenger hunt depends on local business participation. Here is how to recruit them:

Start 3-4 weeks before Victoria Day. Contact BIA members, local shops, restaurants, and attractions. Explain the concept: participants visit their location, complete a simple task (scan a QR code, answer a question, take a photo), and move on.

Offer clear value. Each participating business gets foot traffic from hunt participants, a mention in the game description, and optionally a special Victoria Day discount or promotion for hunt participants.

Keep it simple for businesses. The only thing a business needs to do is display a QR code in their window or at their counter. The code links to a task in the game. No special equipment, no staff training, no extra work.

Step 3: Design the Game Structure

Here is a recommended structure for a Victoria Day downtown scavenger hunt:

Chapter 1: Welcome and Map

• Task 1 (no-answer): Welcome message with the route overview and estimated time (90 minutes)
• Task 2 (direction): "Start at the main square. Look for the Victoria Day banner."

Chapter 2: The Main Route (8-10 stops)
Each stop follows this pattern: a direction task guiding participants to the next location, then a stop task at the location.

Chapter 3: Finish and Rewards

• Task 1 (no-answer): "Congratulations! Show your completion screen at any participating business to claim your discount."
• Task 2 (free-text): "What was your favorite stop? Share your feedback."

Step 4: Task Types for Each Stop

QR Code Check-In (qrbarcode type): Place a QR code at each participating business. Participants scan it to confirm their visit. This is the simplest task type and requires no interaction beyond scanning.

Photo Challenge (image type): Ask participants to photograph something specific at each location. Example: "Take a photo of the window display at [Business Name]. Bonus points for creativity."

Multiple-Choice Question (multiple-choice type): Test observation or knowledge about each location. Example: "How many mannequins are in the window of [Clothing Store]?" (A: 2, B: 3, C: 4)

Free-Text Answer (free-text type): Ask participants to find a specific piece of information. Example: "What is the special Victoria Day promotion at [Cafe Name]? Write it here."

Direction Task (direction type): Guide participants between stops with clear walking directions. Example: "Walk north on Main Street for two blocks. Turn right at the clock tower."

Step 5: Sample 10-Stop Downtown Hunt

Step 6: Configure the Game in PlayTours

Game-level settings:

• Title: "[City Name] Victoria Day Downtown Hunt"
• Global time limit: 4 hours (generous for a 90-minute route)
• Auto translate: Enable for French-English bilingual cities
• Debrief: A congratulations message with reward instructions

Chapter settings:

• Chapter 1: Set minPoints to 0
• Chapter 2: Set completeChallengesInOrder to ON (participants should follow the route). Set shuffleChallenges to OFF.
• Chapter 3: Set minPoints to 0

Task settings:

• Points: 10 per task
• Skippable: Enable on all tasks
• Time penalty: 0
• Limit to X tries: 3 on multiple-choice tasks

Step 7: Promotion and Day-Of Execution

Pre-Event (May 4-17): Announce the hunt on the city tourism website and social media. Distribute flyers to participating businesses. Send a press release to local media. Post the game link on the BIA website.

Day Of (May 18): Post the live link on social media at 9:00 AM. Have volunteers at the start location to help people get set up. Monitor the facilitator dashboard for participation and issues.

Post-Event (May 19-22): Share participation numbers and photos on social media. Send a thank-you to participating businesses. Collect feedback for next year.

Measuring Success

The PlayTours facilitator dashboard provides total participants, completion rate, stop popularity, average completion time, and business visits. Use this data to demonstrate ROI to the BIA board and plan for future events.

Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Route too long. A 90-minute route with 10 stops is the sweet spot. Longer routes lose families with young children.

Not enough restrooms. Ensure the route passes near public restrooms or participating businesses that allow restroom access. Note restroom locations in the welcome message.

Ignoring weather. Have a rain plan. If the forecast is bad, consider extending the hunt to Sunday and Monday so people can choose their day.

No incentive. A discount, small prize, or completion certificate increases participation. Coordinate with businesses to offer a "show your completion screen" reward.

Conclusion

Victoria Day is the perfect launchpad for a downtown scavenger hunt. The long weekend brings people downtown, the spring weather is cooperative, and local businesses are eager for foot traffic.

A browser-based hunt costs nothing to print, requires no permits, and can be set up in a few hours. Build it once, and you have a template for every long weekend of the summer.

Ready to plan your Victoria Day downtown scavenger hunt? Start with the 10-stop sample structure above and customize it for your city's downtown.