Hunt for hidden treasure in North Shore merchants’ windows

The hunt is on! NorthShore Merchants Collective has begun its fifth annual Holiday Window Treasure Hunt.

This holiday tradition combines hidden treasure with beautifully decorated holiday store windows. Best of all, the treasure hunt benefits Northside Neighborhood House.

To join in the fun, shoppers need only pick up a game card from any of 28 participating businesses and start window-shopping. Similar to a game of “find the hidden object in the picture,” this version takes families to the sidewalk to look for unlikely hidden items in holiday-themed windows of local businesses.

For example, you might find an out-of-place ice cream scoop from Clumpies Ice Cream in the window of Locals Only Gifts & Goods, or a bottle of Olive Chattanooga’s olive oil in the window of Frios Gourmet Pops.

New this year, every piece of hidden treasure that is correctly matched with the business where it’s found is counted as an entry for the chance to win a gift basket valued at $1,000. It’s filled with gift certificates and goodies from favorite North Shore shops and restaurants.

The Holiday Window Treasure Hunt runs through Jan. 5. Completed game cards may be deposited at one of three North Shore businesses identified on the card, along with a contribution to be donated to Northside Neighborhood House. (The card states “$1 minimum, $5 recommended, $10 gets you a free hug.”)

All collected money up to $1,000 will be matched by NorthShore Merchants Collective 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.

Participating NorthShore businesses include Adventure Sports Innovation, Association for Visual Arts, Belle Rive Boutique, Blue Skies, Chattanooga Theatre Centre, Clumpies Ice Cream, Epiphany Nail Bar & Hair Studio, Escape Mission Chattanooga and Four Bridges Outfitters.

Also, Frios Gourmet Pops, Good Dog Restaurant, Hair a Go-Go, Healthy Glow Studio, I Go Tokyo, In-Town Gallery, Learning Express Toys, Locals Only Gifts & Goods, NoBaked Cookie Dough, Nooga Paws, Olive Chattanooga, OZ Bridal by Olia Zavozina, Pigtails & Crewcuts, Plum Nelly Shop & Gallery, Quality Tire Pros, Renew All Things, River Street Deli, Sophies and Winder Binder.

NORTHSHORE MERCHANTS COLLECTIVE CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Window-shoppers check off their treasure-hunt cards in last year’s Holiday Window Treasure Hunt.