IS ALSO AVAILABLE FROM 11:30AM, TO 04:00PM. >> FROM YOUR CAPE CORAL NEWS TEAM, A TRADITION IS BRINGING HOLIDAY CHEER TO STRANGERS ACROSS THE CITY. IT’S CALLED HIDE AND SEEK SANTA FOR THE PAST 5 YEARS, RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN BUYING AND HIDING GIFTS AROUND WELL-KNOWN LANDMARKS IN CAPE CORAL AND THEN POSTING CLUES ONLINE FOR OTHERS TO FIND THEM PEOPLE HAVE HAD AND THINGS LIKE BIKES, GAMES, EVEN TV’S THE GAME RUNS FROM THANKSGIVING THROUGH CHRISTMAS EVE. JOE BENNETT STARTED THE GAME. SHE SAYS HUNDREDS OF GIFTS HAVE BEEN GIVEN OUT SO FAR THIS YEAR. >> JUST REALLY AND FIND THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ALL GET INVOLVED IN JUST ABOUT GIVING FROM YOUR HEART DURING THE HOLIDAYS. >> TOOK ABOUT 30 MINUTES. >> IT’S A WONDERFUL TRADITION. BENNETT SAYS THE GAME IS SO POPULAR, PEOPLE ONLINE FIND A GIFT IN JUST A MATTER OF MINUTES. GULF COAST NEWS STARTED TO THE TIMER. WHEN BENNETT HIT A GIFT, SHE HIT IT AT A PLAZA ALONG SANTA BARBARA BOULEVARD IN VETERAN
Cape Coral’s ‘Hide and Seek Santa’ spreads holiday cheer with hidden gifts
Updated: 7:49 PM EST Dec 24, 2025
Cape Coral residents are spreading holiday cheer with the “Hide and Seek Santa” tradition, where gifts are hidden around the city and clues are posted online for others to find from Thanksgiving through Christmas Eve.For the past five years, locals have been buying and hiding gifts around well-known landmarks in the city, with items such as bikes, games, and even TVs being hidden. The residents post a picture of the gifts online. The first ones to get to the gift, gets to keep it.Genelle Bennett started the game in Cape Coral. “It’s just really find that, you know, we all get involved and it’s just about giving from your heart during the holidays,” Bennett said.Bennett noted that the game has become so popular that people are finding the gifts within minutes. Gulf Coast News timed one of Bennett’s hidden gifts at a plaza along Santa Barbara Boulevard and Veterans Memorial Parkway, and it took just 13 minutes for someone to discover it.”I see every post and I enjoy seeing all the posts and all the gifts that are being given away and all the happy faces that, you know, once they find the gift, they put a picture of themself. And, you know, lots of kids are happy to get them,” Bennett said.She added, “It’s grown over the years. We have businesses getting involved. We’re giving, you know, people giving away TVs, bikes, you know, it’s it’s it’s grown. And I’m so thankful for the community and how they’ve really jumped in to play our game and to have fun with it.”DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.
CAPE CORAL, Fla. —
Cape Coral residents are spreading holiday cheer with the “Hide and Seek Santa” tradition, where gifts are hidden around the city and clues are posted online for others to find from Thanksgiving through Christmas Eve.
For the past five years, locals have been buying and hiding gifts around well-known landmarks in the city, with items such as bikes, games, and even TVs being hidden. The residents post a picture of the gifts online. The first ones to get to the gift, gets to keep it.
Genelle Bennett started the game in Cape Coral.
“It’s just really find that, you know, we all get involved and it’s just about giving from your heart during the holidays,” Bennett said.
Bennett noted that the game has become so popular that people are finding the gifts within minutes.
Gulf Coast News timed one of Bennett’s hidden gifts at a plaza along Santa Barbara Boulevard and Veterans Memorial Parkway, and it took just 13 minutes for someone to discover it.
“I see every post and I enjoy seeing all the posts and all the gifts that are being given away and all the happy faces that, you know, once they find the gift, they put a picture of themself. And, you know, lots of kids are happy to get them,” Bennett said.
She added, “It’s grown over the years. We have businesses getting involved. We’re giving, you know, people giving away TVs, bikes, you know, it’s it’s it’s grown. And I’m so thankful for the community and how they’ve really jumped in to play our game and to have fun with it.”
DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.