Austin vintage stores are offering shoppers the thrill of the hunt this month with a Valentine's Day-themed scavenger hunt ending in cash prizes. Whether the goal is to find something older than your relationship or to vet a new partner's taste while on a fun date, vintage-lovers will be looking for two ducks at each of 21 different vintage stores around town from February 9-22.
The hunt is organized by Side Kitsch Vintage and the Vintage Around Town Guide, an annual pamphlet compiled by Devil's Details Boutique and Charm School Vintage to highlight Austin's many stores selling vintage and antique goods.
The 2026 guide — which is brand new this February — organizes everything by area of town, making it easy to plan a day hopping around without traveling too far. It also gives short descriptions of what each store offers.
Players don't need to win to reap the rewards of participating. Shoppers who pick up a wristband (at any store on the list) will get a discount at all the stores on the list. The rest depends on how hard participants want to search.
To win a prize, guests must find the ducks at 10 stores, taking a selfie with them each time to show proof. Hunters must be willing to use social media to post pictures, and tag the store and @vintagearoundtownguide, then send a DM to the latter to keep score. That's one entry. If guests keep searching and find every single duck, they receive a second entry, doubling their chances.
Entries will be drawn from a hat (très chic) after the final day of the event.
That's a fair amount of work — and here are the prizes: First place gets $500, second place gets $200, third place gets $100, and fourth gets a $100 gift card to use at Scissor Sisters Salon, the hair salon that shares a space with Side Kitsch.
The participating stores are:
- American Drifter
- Antiques by Anna
- Armstrong House of Vintage
- Black Feathers Vintage Works
- Charm School
- D&W Lighting
- Devil's Details Boutique
- Feathers Boutique
- Honey Hill Market
- Lady Collective
- Pecos Jane Vintage
- Potluck Vintage
- Rase House Vintage
- Revival Vintage
- Retrofit Vintage
- Room Service Vintage
- Sassy Threads
- Scout Vintage
- Show and Tell Vintage
- Side Kitsch Vintage
- Thigh Hi Vintage
More details about the hunt and how to enter are available at atxvintage.com.