McMinnville TN Restaurants Participating in Alice in Winterland
- Alexis Bishop
- Feb 2
- 3 min read
This February, downtown McMinnville is turning into a storybook!
Alice in Winterland: The Heart of Winter Quest is a month-long scavenger hunt and live story experience transforming our historic downtown into a frozen fairy tale. The story comes complete with shimmer trails, story pages in shop windows, and hidden clues just waiting for you to find them!
Several McMinnville TN restaurants and small businesses, including The Local on Morford, are joining in on the magic. Here’s how you can immerse yourself in the story.
What Is Alice in Winterland: The Heart of Winter Quest?
Alice in Winterland is a living storybook you don’t just read, you step into it yourself!
Between February 1-28, 2026, downtown McMinnville will transform into a whimsical “Winterland,” where Alice’s story unfolds across storefronts, windows, and participating locations. Families and friends will follow a “shimmer trail” through town to read each new page of the story as they go. Along the way, you’ll also stop to collect clues as part of the story!
It’s a magical blend of walking tour, scavenger hunt, and love letter to some of the best local businesses in McMinnville, TN.
How the Quest Works at McMinnville TN Restaurants
Here’s how you can join in on the adventure:
Pick up your scavenger hunt card.
Official postcards will be available at participating businesses throughout downtown. So, keep an eye out on the official Visit McMinnville TN Facebook page for pickup information!
Follow the shimmer trail.
Use your card to find each stop on the Heart of Winter Quest. Look for illustrated pages and clues in shop windows, displays, or hidden within the business itself. As you move between locations, you’ll piece together the story and help Alice find the missing fragments of the Heart of Winter.
Hunt for hidden items.
Each participating location is in on the scavenger hunt. When you visit The Local, be on the lookout for our special Alice in Winterland-themed item tucked somewhere inside the restaurant. Look online and for in-house signage for the exact clue!
Shop, dine, and collect entries.
For every $10 you spend at participating businesses, you earn an entry into the Alice in Winterland Grand Prize drawing. Just staple your receipts to your scavenger hunt card as you go, to keep it all in one place!
Turn in your completed card by the deadline.
All completed cards and attached recipes must be turned in by 8:00 PM on February 28 to be eligible for the prize drawing. This date and time is the official end of the Quest!
Enjoy the Shimmer Trail
Alice in Winterland isn’t just about the window displays. It’s intentionally designed so you can explore some of the best small businesses across our little town.
As you follow the shimmer trail, you might find yourself ducking into boutiques, grabbing coffee, sitting down for lunch, or trying a new spot you’ve been meaning to visit. This is where McMinnville TN restaurants like The Local really get to shine: we get to welcome you for lunch or dinner as part of your magical day out!
The Local on Morford’s Alice in Winterland Experience
Here at The Local, we’re all in on the Winterland fun.
When you visit us on your Quest, make sure you check the official Alice in Winterland website for the clue. Then, look carefully around the fire pit outside, and mark your card once you’ve spotted it!
We’ll also be offering some limited-time “Eat Me” and “Drink Me” specials just for the month of February. These playful flavors definitely belong at the Mad Hatter’s table!
Regular or Peppermint Hot Chocolate - $5
Heart of Winter Cocktail - $10
Strawberry Snow Butter Cake - $10
These specials will only be available during Alice in Winterland, so they’re perfect to turn your simple stamp-stop into a full night out.
Other Participating Businesses Bringing Winterland to Life
Don’t miss out on all the parts of the story! Some of the other participating locations besides The Local include:
Barren Fork Brews
Lemon
The Vanilla Bean Baking Co.
Cumberland Biscuit Co.
Topz Frozen Yogurt & Metro Deli
Flat Foot Records
The Hitch Outfitters
Blue Bow Boutique
Wink Skincare Studio
Falcon Rest Mansion & Gardens
Many of these locations will offer their own Alice in Winterland-themed items for you to enjoy as you explore the town. Together with The Local on Morford, these businesses turn the Quest into a fun tour of downtown that supports our local community.
Final Thoughts: We’ll See You In Winterland!
We’re thrilled to be part of Alice in Winterland this year, and can’t wait to welcome you in while you’re on the Heart of Winter Quest! Whether you’re stopping by to find our hidden scavenger hunt item or to try a Heart of Winter cocktail or a Strawberry Snow Butter Cake, we’re honored to be one of the McMinnville TN restaurants helping bring this story to life.
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