Where's Bernie? Holiday fun had Auburn looking for a big, red inflatable flamingo

Auburn experienced a rash of flamingo-nabbings in December. Actually, it was just one big, red inflatable flamingo that was snatched some 30 or more times, and that was the whole idea – steal Bernie, with the last person holding Bernie at 11 a.m. New Year's Day declared the winner. Suffice to say, there was no such thing as a weekend with Bernie. The holiday fun was the brainchild of Megan Thompson, the office manager at Auburn Dental Aesthetics. Bernie was placed out in front of the business on High Street as a sitting duck – er, flamingo – just waiting to be snatched. And it was game on. The rules were posted on the popular Facebook page Chit Chat Auburn. Each person who grabbed Bernie then had to post clues of his whereabouts – within the city limits – on Chit Chat Auburn. Thompson noticed how involved the community became, saying people "put the kids in the car and drove around Auburn" looking for Bernie. "It made people feel festive and happy," Thompson told the Auburn Journal. The cops weren't called over the Bernie-nabbings; they were in on the fun. Thompson said Bernie ended up at Auburn Toyota, the Auburn Police Department – even a massage place. "The results have been absolutely hilarious, fun and challenging for players," Dan Gustavson, DDS, wrote in an email to the Auburn Journal. "People are very passionate about this game!" The winners were Tim Rae and son Timothy Rae Jr. They received a gift bag that included a Door Dash gift card, Regal Cinema tickets and flamingo-centered gifts, according to Thompson. Heidi McDonald and friend Kelly McNabb received a special festive award for the fun they brought to game. They dressed as trees to sneak into a yard to nab Bernie, then hid in the yard where they had Bernie placed – lying in wait. "When the kids showed up to steal Bernie, Heidi and her friend jumped out to scare the kidd," Thompson said.