By Dana Kroll, Uptown Marketing and Communications Specialist
Grand Rapids, Thursday, November 21, 2024: Uptown Grand Rapids Inc. announces its second annual Uptown
Holiday Elf Scavenger Hunt, and invites the public to return for another shot at the contest.
Both the hunt’s objective and premise are straightforward: To utilize the holiday spirit and a little bit of healthy competition
as a fun vehicle with which to encourage the public to explore and physically engage with the vibrant Uptown district,
and its many unique, small and independently owned shops, restaurants, studios, spas, and more.
The interactive contest officially kicks off on Saturday, November 23, and runs through Thursday, December 5. Due to
participant feedback and the contest/s popularity during its inaugural kickoff last year, the contest run-length has been
extended by several days, with the hopes of making participation even more accessible to all. Participants will have nearly
two full weeks with which to “hunt”; the deadline to complete players’ cards coincides with the district’s biggest annual
event, the Uptown Shop Hop.
Participants of all ages are given the task of finding the “mugshots” of at least twenty mischievous elves – one of which
is hidden in each of the ninety+ businesses that are participating in this year’s hunt. Once found, participants will record
the name of each elf on their player’s card. Completed cards may be turned in for a chance to win a gift basket. The catch?
Cards may only be returned for entry to win in person, on the days leading up to and during the Shop Hop event.
Players may pick up their player’s card at any of the participating businesses, beginning today, or have the option to
download and print their own. Which businesses are hiding an elf? That is for participants to suss! Completed cards must
be returned to one of the contest’s two drop-off collection sites: Basic Bee Boutique, or Rebel. There will be one additional
drop-off spot available (only) during the Shop Hop – the Uptown GR official Shop Hop Hub (located at Hermitage At
Diamond).
All prizes will consist of goods and wares sourced exclusively from the local businesses themselves. Opportunities to win
have been expanded for year two, bumping the total number of gift baskets from one to five (four which are geared
towards the general public and one which is geared especially for children!).
Uptown hopes that, like its regionally renowned Shop Hop event (which currently celebrates its 27th consecutive year),
the introduction of this light-hearted scavenger hunt will become another beloved tradition with which to offer a recurring
invitation to have fun, explore new-to-you businesses, and support local, during the holiday season.
Per Ingrid Miller, Executive Director, UGRI: “Uptown Grand Rapids is proud to support our local businesses and foster a
diverse, welcoming, and thriving city district. We invite Elf Hunters of all ages to explore our festive streets and discover
a new favorite place to visit time and time again long after the holiday season.”
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Uptown consists of four business districts: Eastown, East Fulton, Wealthy Street, and East Hills. The district is also home to five residential neighborhoods: Baxter, East Hills, Eastown, Fulton Heights, and Midtown. In all climates, UGRI celebrates its mission: to bring together people, partnerships, and possibilities to sustain a strong and vibrant urban district through planning, coordinating, and communicating with and between all sectors of the Uptown community and beyond.
For more information about this and all things Uptown, please contact Ingrid Miller.