By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
Downtown scavenger hunt promises ‘pot of gold’
Downtown scavenger hunt
Downtown businesses with a shamrock painted on their windows are participating in the Pot of Gold Scavenger Hunt from Thursday through Saturday (ANGELINA MARTIN/The Journal).

St. Patrick’s Day fun is on the way for Turlockers in need of some luck, courtesy of a downtown scavenger hunt with prizes you’d be sure to find at the end of a rainbow. 

Over 20 downtown businesses have come together for the Pot of Gold Scavenger Hunt — a three-day event featuring more than one way to win. Jennifer Brannon, owner of Lightly Used Books, said the idea for a scavenger hunt came during a monthly meeting between downtown businesses owners.

“We’ve been trying to discuss what we can do to help bring that vibrancy back into our downtown community,” Brannon said. “We want to remind people that we’re here, and we thought a St. Patrick’s Day scavenger hunt would be a fun way to get people to come do something as a community again.”

From Thursday through Saturday, visitors to downtown Turlock will have the opportunity to win the Pot of Gold, which includes gift cards, coupons and prizes to all 23 participating businesses, or RAD Card funds of over $100. If they're really lucky, they could win both.

To be entered into the drawing for the scavenger hunt’s Pot of Gold, participants must visit the event’s website on March 17 for a list of the 23 participating downtown businesses and their respective scavenger hunt items. These businesses also have green shamrocks painted on their windows so that they’re easier to find. Participants then must go to the businesses and post a photo of their scavenger hunt item on Instagram with the hashtag #shopdowntownturlock. Each photo posted will count as one entry into the drawing, and participants must also tag the business in their item’s post. 

“For the bookstore, the scavenger hunt item could be something like a book with a green cover,” Brannon said. “The Pot of Gold has so many amazing prizes from all of the participating businesses…I wish I could play.”

To be eligible for the RAD Card raffle, participants will need to make a purchase at any of the downtown businesses from March 17 to March 19 and fill out a raffle card, no Instagram account needed. 

“There are two ways to do this and you don’t have to purchase anything if you do the scavenger hunt,” Brannon said. “So many businesses downtown have changed, and this is a great way to get people back out here shopping again or just seeing what’s new.”

Participating businesses in the Pot of Gold Scavenger Hunt include: Old French Trading Co., The Udder Place, Taqueria La Primera, Envy Fine Clothing, Vail Creek Jewelry Design, Rustic Roots, D2, Lightly Used Books, Salon Within, Farm House, Magical Mamas, Alegria Performing Arts Academy, Little Red Door, Crust & Crumb, Salon Two Zero Nine, The Creative Market, Bella Forte Boutique, Main Street Antiques, Turlock Historical Society Museum, A Twist of Elegance Boutique, 1507 Boutique, Savor Charcuterie, Dolly Boutique. 

Scavenger hunt items will be posted at 8 a.m. Thursday at https://bit.ly/3u0a7sF and the contest will run through Saturday.