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Hide and Seek Ornaments You Keep

The community joined the fun and uncovered one-of-a-kind holiday treasures during the sixth annual Hide and Seek Ornaments You Keep, heldFriday, Dec. 5 through Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025.

Each day, local artists hid their handcrafted ornaments in trees and other whimsical spots near favorite shops, restaurants and attractions across the region. Every ornament was a unique, artist-designed keepsake. 

Follow the Clues and Join the Hunt!

Local artists tucked their ornaments into easily accessible hiding spots and shared daily hints about where to find them using #DSMUSA, #downtownDSM and #DSMlocal. Participants kept their eyes peeled and phones handy to uncover extra clues and see photos of the handmade ornaments by following @DSMpartnership and @downtownDSMUSA on Facebook and Instagram.

Found one? Participants were asked to snap a selfie with their discovery and share it on social media to spread the holiday cheer, then took their ornament home as a keepsake. (To make sure everyone had a chance to join the fun, the event was limited to one ornament per family.)

Locations and artists for the 2025 festive scavenger hunt included:

Friday, Dec. 5: Adel, Pella, Polk City

  • Janssen Custom Fabrication
  • Karley's Collection
  • Brandon Olsen

Saturday, Dec. 6: Greenfield, Osceola, Oskaloosa

  • Hanna Piepel Design Studio
  • Lori Ristau
  • Vandal Artistry

Sunday, Dec. 7: Ankeny, Des Moines – Western Gateway Park

  • Teri Breck
  • Allison Thomley

Monday, Dec. 8: Perry, Pleasant Hill

  • Mindy Carlson
  • Jennifer Lee

Tuesday, Dec. 9: Newton, Panora

  • Clark Colby
  • Stefanie Munro

Wednesday, Dec. 10: Carlisle, Winterset

  • Hand-Me-Down Talents
  • Courtney Moller of Art You Wood Love

Thursday, Dec. 11: Grinnell / Grinnell College, Knoxville

  • Macrame by Kourtney
  • Tim Schmitt

Friday, Dec. 12: Des Moines – Historic East Village, Earlham, Marshalltown

  • Kate Bailly
  • Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden Artisan Guild
  • Tammie Harcharik of T Harcharik Designs

Saturday, Dec. 13: Des Moines – Historic Court District, Norwalk

  • Sara Carlson from Dark Phoenix Designs
  • Oak & Ember

Sunday, Dec. 14: Des Moines – Central Downtown, Urbandale

  • Tibi Chelcea
  • Urbandale High School Art Department

Holiday Cheer Across the Region! 

Hide and Seek Ornaments You Keep is sponsored by BRAVO Greater Des Moines, MidAmerican Energy Foundation, Prairie Meadows and the Principal Foundation.

To learn more about shopping local in Greater Des Moines (DSM), visit the Downtown DSM Guide and the #DSMlocal Buying Guide.