DIZ’S DOWNTOWN HOLIDAY HUNT: 25 Days of Downtown

November 11, 2026

A. Diz’s Holiday Hunt

25 Days of Downtown - Manchester, NH

Get ready to explore

The Holidays are calling you Downtown. Ready to explore? Whether you live here, work here, or are visiting for the holidays, we invite you to discover more of Downtown Manchester this holiday season. Discover all 40 challenges, see photos and helpful tips below. Have fun, make it simple. Eat. Drink. Be Merry!

Print Check List

Pick up a check list from Diz's or print one by clicking and printing from here. Return your completed list, checking it twice, to Diz's between December 1st and 31st (by the end of our New Year's Eve Brunch) to qualify for the prizes. Prize winners will be randomly picked from contestants who completed 25 challenges. The first 25 chosen will win a $25 gift card each. Prizes will be drawn the first week in January.

LET THE GAMES BEGIN!

A. Diz’s Holiday Fun

Category A: Diz’s holiday discoveries, and a few reasons to stop in and say hello.

A1. Challenge: Make a Holiday Paper Chain

Diz’s is well known for our holiday paper chains! Enjoy the simple fun of making a paper chain while chatting with friends and waiting for your meal.

A2. Challenge: “Pic” your Favorite Diz’s Snow Person

Take a selfie with one of our snow people, designed and made by our favorite local artist, Jyl Draws Everyday.

A3. Challenge: Order Something Festive to Eat from Diz’s Special Menus

Order something from our December Specials Menu. Easy & Good.

A4. Challenge: Stop to Smell the Coffee

Come in with friends for an afternoon coffee. Holiday it up with a pump of peppermint and a cinnamon stick!

A5. Challenge: Make a Holiday Wish

Write down your wish and hang it on Diz’s Holiday Wish Tree. Many of our wishes have come true. Give it a try. What do you have to lose?

A6. Challenge: Share the Holiday Fun with Friends

Introduce someone to Diz’s who’s never been here before. Enjoy a great meal, holiday music, making decorations or holiday cards, and chatting with neighbors and friends.

A7. Challenge: Make a Holiday Card for a Local Senior

Let your creative side shine by making a heartfelt holiday card for a local senior. Join the fun, make a card, and take it with you or leave it at Diz’s for our card donation.

A8. Challenge: Write a Letter to Santa

Santa, his elves, and Mrs. Claus regularly stop at Diz’s to pick up their mail. Take a few minutes to write Santa a heartfelt letter, and don’t forget to say hi to his team of reindeer.

A9. Challenge: Have Yourself a Merry Little Dizmas!

On December 18, join us for our annual Dizmas Party! Make a reservation and bring friends and family to enjoy our special holiday menu, a free hot cocoa bar, and a visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus.

A10. Challenge: Find the Grandmas at Diz’s

Downtown’s Grandma, Carol Robidoux, publisher of Ink Link News, and Diz’s very own Grandma Judi can sometimes be found solving the problems of the world over an evening meal or afternoon coffee. “Just ask Grandma… for a cookie or an alibi.” If you spot them, stop by and say hi!

B. Find it Downtown

Category B: Downtown landmarks, mysteries, hidden details, and places people may pass every day without noticing.

B1. Challenge: Challenge: Cut Through Cat Alley

Park adjacent to Elm Street and cut through Cat Alley to Elm Street. Take a left to visit us at Diz's. Read the plaque to find out why it’s called “Cat Alley”.

B2. Challenge: Find An Art Center

Manchester has a choice of many Art Centers in Downtown. Can you find our newest art center that is opening on Lowell Street? Stop by and catch a star in the gallery or at the door at the new art center.

B3. Challenge: Take a Selfie at the "Greetings from Manchester" Mural

Have you admired James Chase’s “Greeting from Manchester” Mural? Now’s the time to gather your friends and family and take a holiday photo.

B4. Challenge: Do some Holiday Shopping on Hanover Street

From classy to quirky, Hanover street has interesting holiday finds from your besties to your grammies.

B5. Challenge: Browse our Local Bookstore

Enjoy the holiday by browsing our local bookstore. They have lots of personality, great books, and holiday gift finds.

B6. Challenge: Eat Something Sweet

Ice Cream in December? Or maybe the smell of chocolate and peppermint candy will entice you as you stroll the streets of downtown.

B7. Challenge: Explore North of Bridge Street

Visit one retail, one sweet spot, and one hidden jem North of Bridge on Elm Street.

B8. Challenge: Santa’s not the only one with a list!

Explore Downtown Manchester’s many food spots, from familiar favorites to flavors from around the world. Find a place you haven’t tried yet and add a little something new to your holiday season!

B9. Challenge: Have Yourself a Santa Belly Laugh

Check out one of our many comedy clubs and enjoy a night of laughs right here downtown Manchester.

B10. Challenge: Find Holiday Kitsch in Downtown

From Canal Street to Elm Street you can find some of our best kept secrets, collectables, tags, action figures, and specialty items.

C. Downtown Traditions & Holiday Events

Category C: Holiday windows, seasonal displays, the Holiday Parade, Merrymaking, Hanukkah, and every day traditions in downtown Manchester, NH.

C1. Challenge: Shop Local on Small Business Saturday

Downtown Manchester’s holiday season officially begins off on November 29th with Small Business Saturday. The Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce holds their kick off event at the Bookery (next door to Diz’s) on Elm Street starting at 9:00a.m.

C2. Challenge: Watch the Manchester Holiday Parade

Join us at the Holiday Parade, Saturday December 5th at 4:00p.m. Visit the review stand and take a holiday photo with the WMNH | Manchester Public TV team. Before or after the parade, join one of our wonderful downtown restaurants for food and drinks or visit one of our coffee, ice cream, or candy shops for a holiday treat.

C3. Challenge: Attend Merrymaking on West Merrimack Street

Experience the event, explore the vendors and activities, and stop by Diz's tent on Sunday, December 6, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

C4. Challenge: Remember A Little Light Goes a Long Way

A little light for everyone! Enjoy one or all of these favorite Downtown Holiday events: On Thursday, December 10th join your neighbors for the Lighting of our Menorah on at City Hall at 5:30 p.m. And join everyone, after the Holiday Parade, for the Lighting of the Christmas Tree at Stanton Plaza in front of the DoubleTree Hotel on Saturday, December 5th at 4:45 p.m.

C5. Challenge: Visit Downtown’s Creepy Santa

Find Diz’s favorite holiday troublemaker at the Christmas tree lot north of Bridge Street. Buy a tree or take a photo with Creepy Santa… if you dare!

C6. Challenge: Meet The Business Owners

Downtown is a close knit community of businesses owned by real people. Our business owners are usually working at their business and ready to stop and chat! Please introduce yourself and say “Happy Holidays!” Let them know how much you are enjoying their business.

C7. Challenge: Participate in the Santa Shuffle

Have fun with the 100 yard Lil' Elf Run at 2:30 p.m. and the 3-mile Santa Shuffle at 3p.m. If you register early enough you can receive a full Santa suit! Then stay to enjoy the Holiday Parade on Elm Street directly after the race.

C8. Challenge: Enjoy the Quieter Times

Monday-Thursdays are generally quieter times downtown. Whether attending a private or business holiday party or booking a group activity, downtown offers plenty of fun everyday of the week. Choose one of our quiet times for those special events. For more information about Diz’s holiday events, happy hour buy outs, and other private or catering events contact [email protected].

C9. Challenge: Take a Chicken Tender Challenge with Friends

Did you know that Diz’s was named Best Chicken Tenders for 2026? There are tons of restaurants serving chicken tenders. Why? Because Manchester, NH is the Chicken Tender Capital of the World! You can meet Nick, the Mayor of Tender Town, at his shop at Queen City Center.

C10. Challenge: Discover New Friends Downtown

Find the people and places helping make Downtown Manchester a welcoming community. Browse the Manchester True Collaborative event calendar or why not hop over and find another downtown event or activity that celebrates connection and belonging. Because there's a place for everyone downtown.

D. Downtown Art, Shows & Adventures

Category D: Shows, comedy, creativity, music, experiences, and other local adventures.

D1. Challenge: Visit the Palace Theatre

Attend The Nutcracker, A Christmas Carol, or another holiday performance, or find a show poster, learn what's playing and share a photo!

D2. Challenge: Pick Your Next Big Night Out

Discover SNHU Arena. Attend a holiday-season event, or find a photo of its lighted event board and choose the show you'd most like to see.

D3. Challenge: Book artful escapes at a studio or experience space

Once you visit downtown you won’t want to escape, but can! Plan your adventures, escapes, painting, and specialty events that pop up!

D4. Challenge: Enjoy the Music of the Season

Live performances at The Rex Theatre include Charlie Brown, Celtic Christmas, and Holiday Glow. Don’t have time? Take a picture of their holiday line up and share it with your friends!

D5. Challenge: Stroll Downtown to View the Holiday Window Displays

Take a self-guided walking tour of downtown Manchester to view the Holiday Window Displays painted by local and regional artists. Use the Interactive Map and Business Directory to learn more about each artist and business.

D6. Challenge: Visit South Elm Street

Visit one of our South Elm shops. South Elm Street features art studios, a world famous candy shop, a 10,000 square foot antique shop, and a shop of eclectic shopping and creative classes!

D7. Challenge: Find Manchester’s Donuts, Pies, Cookies, and Cupcakes Shops

Downtown has some Granite State-worthy cupcakes, pies that might take you down a slightly crooked path, and donuts that are sure to leave you feeling a little fluffy!

D8. Challenge: Listen, Learn, Laugh - Spread the Holiday Hunt

Tune in to The Morning Show with Peter White on WMNH 95.3, Manchester’s public radio station, weekdays from 7–9 AM. Watch LIVE on Facebook, leave a comment mentioning Diz’s Downtown Holiday Hunt, and help spread the word!

D9. Challenge: Share the Fun & Tag Diz’s!

Snap a photo of your downtown adventure and share it on social media! Tag the business or location you visited and Diz’s so we can follow along with your Holiday Hunt discoveries.

D10. Challenge: Find Something To Do’s through Ink Link News

Attend a holiday show you find in the Manchester Ink Link. An independent, hyperlocal online news and community information website for Manchester, NH.