The NorthShore Merchants Collective is hosting its eighth annual Holiday Window Treasure Hunt to benefit the Northside Neighborhood House. To join in the fun, all one has to do is pick up a game card from any one of 23 participating businesses and start the hunt.
Similar to those "find the hidden object in the picture" games one might remember from "Highlights Magazine", the NorthShore's version makes one take to the sidewalk, looking for unlikely hidden items in the holiday-themed windows of local businesses. For example, one might find an out-of-place ice cream scoop from Clumpie’s Ice Cream Shoppe in the window of Stretch Zone, or a dog bone from Nooga Paws in the window of Zi Olive.
Completed game cards are ultimately deposited, along with a minimum one dollar contribution, at one of three NorthShore businesses. Each successful treasure-hunter is then registered for the chance to win one of three gift baskets filled with gift certificates and goodies from favorite NorthShore shops and restaurants, each valued at $400. All collected monies are supplemented by NSMC and donated to the Northside Neighborhood House for its annual Toy Drive. NNH works with its clients to purchase the specific toys and items their children have requested from Santa.
Officials said, "The treasure hunt kicks off on Thursday, Nov. 17, the start of the NorthShore's four-day Holiday Open House, and runs until Jan. 3, 2023--so if you don't have time during the pre-Christmas rush, you can join in the fun after Christmas, before the little ones return to school. And, while the Treasure Hunt is a family-fun activity good for the kids, it’s not just for tykes--grab your adult friends for a fun time that benefits a great cause."
This NSMC signature holiday activity was inspired by one of its members, Jamie George, who grew up in the town of Gillingham in Dorset, England where he remembers a similar treasure hunt. "It was a lot of fun and an annual tradition there," he said. "You'd run into your friends doing the same thing so it was a good way to catch up with everyone. The tradition prevails today."