Gallup Launches First-Ever Downtown Leprechaun Scavenger Hunt for St. Patrick's Day

Families hunting leprechauns through downtown Gallup have until the St. Patrick's Day on 66 celebration to complete the city's first-ever downtown scavenger hunt, a walking adventure the City of Gallup launched alongside the Gallup/McKinley County Chamber of Commerce and the Gallup Route 66 Committee.

The scavenger hunt opened to the public on Friday, March 6, though the city's formal public notice was posted on March 9, 2026. Officials have not yet explained the gap between the two dates, and the Gallup Courier is seeking clarification from the city on which date marks the official start.

The event threads St. Patrick's Day festivities through Gallup's Route 66 heritage, asking participants to engage with local history, art, and culture as they walk the downtown corridor. Organizers framed the challenge as a way to get the community "into the spirit of St. Patrick's Day and celebrating the Mother Road," according to the event notice. Participants have a week from the opening date to complete the hunt before the St. Patrick's Day on 66 celebration, which local reporting indicates is slated to begin at noon, though the full schedule details remain incomplete.

The three organizing partners, the City of Gallup, the Chamber of Commerce, and the Route 66 Committee, have not yet released information about where participants can pick up maps or clue sheets, whether registration is required, or whether prizes are involved. The Courier has reached out to all three organizations for those logistics and for comment.

What is clear is that this marks a genuine first for downtown Gallup. No prior downtown scavenger hunt of this kind has been organized around St. Patrick's Day, making this year's event a new fixture in what is shaping up to be a full day of activity along the Mother Road.