Organizers will be giving people across the area a chance to explore downtown Clinton like a pirate, searching for buried treasure with the X Marks the Shop event Aug. 6-8.
Main Street Manager Tyler Wise encourages everyone to participate if they can, supporting local businesses in a fun and creative way — through a scavenger hunt. A map will be provided leading participants to the buried treasure, which includes lots of prizes, and businesses are still adding more as the event draws closer.
Explore participating businesses, solve clues, discover hidden gems, and experience downtown Clinton in a whole new way, Wise noted. Participants can get active following the map around the square and enjoy some healthy competition on the hunt for the treasure. Wise emphasized that the event will be “another fun opportunity to not only support local businesses and win prizes but to connect with your community as well.”
Tickets must per purchased, at $10 each, but the price gets you ice cream at either Butlers on Main or Simply Brewed Coffee Co, a swag bag, and the map to lead you to the chance at the treasure chest.
The treasure chest has two tickets for the Sept. 20 event downtown, a Low Country Boil, in addition to various prizes added by local businesses. The chest is currently valued at $450, with prizes still being added.
Participants should complete their map and submit it to Matthews Gifts to be entered into the raffle to win the treasure chest.
Any way to get involved in the community is good, stressed Wise as she urged participation, noting that downtown has a lot to offer.
Downtown Clinton has more than 180 businesses and organizations to visit and this scavenger hunt is a way to see all there is to explore, Wise said. “Why not join in the treasure hunt while you’re out back-to-school shopping,” Wise added as she emphasized how easy it would be to participate in X Marks the Shop.
According to the Visit Sampson County website, Historic Downtown Clinton combines Southern culture, historic preservation, new enterprise, great shops and restaurants, and plenty of charm. Whether you have lived in Clinton all your life, are brand new to the area, or are just visiting, downtown has so much to offer, and X Marks the Shop is a different way to explore the are no matter how familiar you may already be, the Main Street director noted.
Tickets for X Marks the Shop can be purchased through Aug. 8 at Matthews Gifts and Simply Brewed. A ticket allows you to participate one day or up to all three. After the event, one winner will be pulled from the raffle and win the treasure chest.