2nd Puzzle Competition and Swap was a success!

Twenty-three 2-person teams joined us on a snowy afternoon for 500-piece puzzle challenge. Each puzzle was wrapped in newspaper for a surprise reveal and a fair start across the board.

From the first snap of a corner piece to the final victorious click, it was a celebration of community, creativity, and good old-fashioned fun.

And the winners were…

🏆 1st Place! The Usual Poetry
Jocelyn and Sarah are seasoned puzzling pros, and they came into this year ready to put the pieces together. These return competitors put in the prep work, meeting up to practice with their own 500-piece puzzles—and it showed! Their teamwork and strategy paid off with a blazing fast finish, earning them first place with an impressive time of 1 hour, 10 minutes, and 21 seconds. Puzzle perfection!

🥈 2nd Place! Big Picture Thinkers
Return puzzlers, Amy and Julianne came in with a goal—and they nailed it. Determined to land in the top three, they stayed focused, calm, and completely unfazed by the snowstorm happening outside. Talk about dedication! Their strong debut earned them second place with a time of 1 hour, 25 minutes, and 43 seconds. A big win for these two!

🥉 3rd Place! Inner Piece
Jess and Ruth were new to the FWC puzzle competition this year and they came ready. Armed with their own puzzle trays and a solid game plan, the duo tackled the challenge head-on. Their preparation and teamwork secured them third place with a finishing time of 1 hour, 37 minutes, and 38 seconds. Nicely done!

The fun didn’t stop at the tables—FWC also hosted a free puzzle swap, where spectators and puzzlers alike could trade and discover new challenges. Thank you to our event sponsors - NIchols Fund, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, Diversions Puzzles and Games, and our prize sponsor Kind & Co. And thank you to our volunteers - Karen, Jenny, and DeAnna!