Nov. 25—LENOIR — This season, while enjoying some holiday shopping, have fun throughout Lenoir's downtown district by finding all the hidden Holiday Elves located in participating local businesses.
From Nov. 24 until Dec. 24, a number of stores and restaurants in downtown Lenoir will have one Elf hidden somewhere inside for guests to find. Once the Elf is spotted, ask an employee for the Elf on a Shelf QR code and scan it to collect points.
Some Elves will be hidden within a window display. Simply locate the Elf and scan the QR code nearby to collect points.
Rachel Minish, owner of the R&R Salon at the Courtney, said a customer's young daughter has already named the salon's elf Courtney, after the building where it is located.
"I love the idea of Elf on the Shelf in stores," said Minish. "It wasn't a thing when I was a kid or when my kids were small, so I'm just going to really enjoy it. Hiding it and moving it around sounds like it's going to be a fun and unique thing for downtown. I think it will involve the kids in shopping in downtown stores and give them something to do while parents are doing the heavy work."
Rick Wakefield, owner of both Dead People's Stuff Antiques & Emporium and the Time Capsule Vintage Store, said he appreciates the city's effort to bring more people downtown.
"This year's Elf on a Shelf, but also the downtown Christmas lights, are really helping people get into the stores," he said. "I've already seen people taking pictures and doing the little activities around the angel wings and the decorated trees. It makes it fun for all the people who come to Lenoir."
In the spirit of the game, Wakefield will also be offering a 10% discount at the Time Capsule Vintage Store to customers who can locate his own miniature elf inside.
Residents and out-of-towners alike are welcome to have fun this holiday season and support local businesses by scavenging for the hidden Holiday Elves and collecting as many points as possible before the deadline on Christmas Eve.
The participating businesses are as follows: 1841 Café, Central Barber Shop, DoodleBugs, Dead People's Stuff Antiques & Emporium, Time Capsule Vintage Store, Fercott Fermentables, J Birds, K & K Sparkle Boutique, Lenoir Service League Thrift Store, Liquid Roots Brewing Project, Mary Kae's Jewelry, MoonJoy Meadery, Side Street Pour House & Grill, The Shake-N-Dog, Stewart & Associates, Taste of Havana, The Flour Shoppe, Main Street Magic Café, Tybrisa Books, Folk Keeper Gallery, Brews & Mews Cat Café, Aary's Ice Cream, Mi Molcajete, Wolf Moon Salt Cave and Stress Reduction Center, The Buckin' Babe Boutique, and the R&R Salon at the Courtney.
Visit https://downtownlenoirnc.com/elf-shelf-store-lenoir22/ or follow Downtown Lenoir on Facebook for more details. Go to http://scavr.app/join/QXjVEPE38AqaPrHDyV9u to register for the game and to download the Scavr app.