After three months of planning and preparation, followed by two weeks of hiking around Hogsback hiding secret codes while hoping nobody caught us acting suspiciously (including hiking from Madonna with a chicken… don’t ask), and from late nights to pet galleries, we thought we’d finally get to relax a bit once the Quest started.
Ha. Not a chance!
We were out there, checking locations, answering questions, and handing out spot prizes.
But hearing everyone’s adventures was the best part of it all. From people spending an hour looking for ‘silver linings,’ searching for ‘whispering winds,’ and groups wandering around muttering to themselves like they’d lost the plot, to everyone sharing their favourite moments in the Photo Quest albums. Every quester we met couldn’t wait to tell us what weird and wonderful paths the quest had led them down, and how they saw places they’ve never seen before.
One of the highlights for us was seeing Questers as young as four years old tackling the riddles and coming to ask us questions, while older couples told us they’d already be back next year with their families to take part again. We even had teams arrive in matching shirts!
So, before we disappear until Halloween, here are this year’s winning photos and some of the wonderful feedback we received from the Questers. These are just a small selection of the responses we received this year. We know there’s no such thing as a perfect event, and there will always be room for improvement. We take every piece of feedback to heart and try our best to make the Quest better each year.
*Shout-out to Miki, who we kept passing on our secret missions. Between nearly electrocuting herself in the name of Christmas spirit, becoming the designated photographer for half the Christmas in July events, going on bunting patrol, and taking it upon herself to invite Santa (but forgetting to give him directions), she did an amazing job making the town feel festive.*
Every year, Hogsback proves that a small village can create something truly special together.