7 Secrets To Winning The Twin Cities Live Contests Today (Updated Guide)

Are you ready to win big? Every weekday, Twin Cities Live (TCL) hosts some of the most exciting and generous giveaways in the Minneapolis-St. Paul area, ranging from all-inclusive vacations to major home makeovers and cash prizes. As of December 15, 2025, the key to unlocking these prizes is knowing the exact "Watch & Win" formula, which requires you to tune in for a specific keyword.

This guide cuts through the noise to give you the freshest, most up-to-date strategy for entering and winning the current Twin Cities Live contest. You don't need to be a long-time viewer—you just need the right information and the precise steps to submit the daily code word before the entry window closes.

The Official Twin Cities Live Contest Profile: How to Enter

Unlike many online sweepstakes that require endless clicking, the Twin Cities Live contest format is built around viewer engagement with the KSTP-TV program. This "Watch and Win" model ensures that only dedicated viewers are eligible, which significantly reduces the competition and increases your odds of winning. Understanding this profile is the first step to claiming your prize.

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• Broadcaster: KSTP-TV Channel 5 (ABC Affiliate)
• Show Name: Twin Cities Live (TCL)
• Air Time (The Entry Window): Weekdays (Monday–Friday) from 3:00 PM CT to 4:30 PM CT.
• Primary Entry Mechanism: The Daily Code Word (or Keyword).
• How It Works: A specific, unique code word is displayed on the screen at a random point during the 3:00 PM to 4:30 PM CT broadcast.
• Entry Deadline: The online entry form usually closes shortly after the show airs, often by 12:00 PM (noon) CT the following day, meaning you must act fast.
• Online Entry Portal: Entries are typically submitted via a dedicated contest page on the KSTP/Twin Cities Live website, often managed through a platform like UPICKEM.

1. Your Daily Checklist: The "Watch & Win" Strategy

To ensure you never miss a chance to win, follow this simple, three-step routine every weekday:

1. Tune In Promptly: Make sure you are watching KSTP-TV Channel 5 (or streaming the show live) starting at 3:00 PM CT.
2. Jot Down the Code Word: Be ready with a pen and paper. The code word is often only shown once for a brief moment, usually in the lower third of the screen. It can be a single word, a phrase, or a combination of letters and numbers.
3. Enter Immediately: Visit the official Twin Cities Live contest entry page online and submit the code word as soon as the show is over. Do not wait until the next morning, as a technical issue or simply forgetting could cost you the entry.

2. What Kind of Prizes Do Twin Cities Live Contests Offer?

Twin Cities Live is renowned for running high-value, topical, and seasonal contests. The prizes are rarely small gift cards; instead, they focus on life-changing experiences, home upgrades, and major cash awards. This makes the daily effort of watching the show well worth your time.

The Biggest and Most Popular TCL Contests:

• The Kitchen Star Contest: This is one of TCL's most famous competitions. It often involves a multi-round elimination format where amateur chefs submit recipes and videos, with the grand prize being a significant cash prize, a feature on the show, and a title.
• The Vacation Getaway Sweepstakes: TCL frequently partners with tourism boards (like VISIT FLORIDA in the past) to give away all-expenses-paid luxury trips. Past prizes have included trips for two to destinations like Sanibel Island in Southwest Florida.
• Home and Lifestyle Makeovers: Contests often revolve around home improvement, furniture, or professional services, allowing viewers to win thousands of dollars in upgrades for their living space.
• Seasonal Cash Giveaways: During peak holiday seasons or major events, they often run cash-based "Trivia" or "Watch and Win" sweepstakes, such as the past TreeCL TRIVIA CONTEST.
• Concert and Event Tickets: Though less frequent than the major prizes, TCL also gives away tickets to major concerts, theater productions, and local Twin Cities events.

3. Troubleshooting Your Entry: Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even with the correct code word, many people are disqualified due to simple errors. Ensure your entry is valid by avoiding these common pitfalls:

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Mistake #1: Missing the Entry Window.

The code word is only valid for the specific day it airs. If you watch the show on Monday and try to enter Tuesday's code word, your entry will be rejected. Always submit the code on the same day it is displayed.

Mistake #2: Incorrect Code Word Spelling.

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The code word must be entered exactly as it appears on screen. This includes capitalization and any special characters if they are part of the keyword. "TwinCities" is not the same as "twin cities," so pay close attention to the on-screen graphic.

Mistake #3: Entering After the Deadline.

While the code word is revealed between 3:00 PM and 4:30 PM CT, the entry window for that day's prize typically closes at midnight or noon the following day. Set a reminder to submit your entry immediately after the show to avoid missing the cutoff.

Mistake #4: Not Checking Eligibility.

Most TCL contests are restricted to residents of the Twin Cities Metro Area (Minnesota and Western Wisconsin) and require entrants to be 18 years or older. Always check the official rules link on the contest page to confirm your eligibility before entering.

4. LSI Keywords and Related Entities for Higher Odds

For those serious about winning, knowing the related entities and LSI (Latent Semantic Indexing) keywords helps you track the contest across different platforms and search engines. These terms represent what TCL contests are truly about:

• KSTP Channel 5
• Twin Cities Live hosts (Steve Patterson, Elizabeth Ries)
• Twin Cities Live current giveaways
• TCL code word (daily keyword)
• Minneapolis-St. Paul sweepstakes
• KSTP-TV Watch & Win
• Minnesota contest winners
• Twin Cities Live official rules
• UPICKEM entry portal
• Sanibel Island trip giveaway
• Kitchen Star Contest winner
• TreeCL TRIVIA CONTEST
• Local news contests MN
• Twin Cities Live social media
• Current TCL prize

By searching these terms, you can often find social media posts or forum discussions that confirm the code word or provide links to the current entry page, significantly boosting your chances of a successful entry today, December 15, 2025.