Explore Palatine and PalHunt Scheduled to Support Local Business

The Palatine Area Chamber of Commerce (PACC) will be hosting its 3rd annual ‘Explore Palatine’ event, an outdoor expo and sidewalk sale, on Saturday, September 12, 2020. Businesses are currently being sought to participate, and sponsorship opportunities are available. On Sunday, September 13 the PACC launches a new event-PalHunt! Participants are able to play by themselves or with a team for this fun clue hunt around Palatine. Both events support the local economy by encouraging area residents to explore, and in some cases discover, businesses all over Palatine - on this day, and whenever possible.

Explore Palatine invites all Palatine-based businesses to participate, along with PACC members, at no cost for those with Palatine storefront locations. Businesses should sign up as soon as possible at explorepalatine.org and are encouraged to offer sales, provide entertainment, or feature other special offers. Yellow or gold balloons should be displayed outside of participating locations to direct visitors and shoppers. A 50/50 raffle will also be part of this event.

Explore Palatine is an outgrowth of PACC's 'Think Local' campaign. It was created to generate awareness about businesses and educate area residents about the importance of keeping sales tax dollars in local communities.

"With so many small businesses in the area struggling to make ends meet, it is vital for the PACC and area residents to work together in an effort to strengthen our community,” said PACC Executive Director Steven Gaus. “We invite Palatine and surrounding community members to spread the word and participate in these two outdoor events created to give aid to our local small businesses.”

PACC members who do not have Palatine locations can still participate by setting up tables at a number of shopping centers within the village limits. Please contact PACC Executive Director Steven Gaus at 847-359-7200 for more information about participating, as well as a variety of sponsorship opportunities.

Residents from Palatine and neighboring cities are welcome to drive, bike or walk around the downtown and adjacent areas of Palatine to solve clues during PalHunt. This outdoor clue hunt is scheduled from noon to 6:00 p.m., with the last entries being accepted at 7:30 p.m. Teams are asked to stay together and the event will take approximately one to one and a half hours by car.

The cost is $10 per person or $20 per team. The first place winner will receive a 50/50 split of the funds raised. The other half of the funds will benefit the Keep Palatine Strong Fund, which supports small storefront businesses in Palatine who have been financially impacted with significant loss of income from the COVID-19 outbreak and subsequent Stay-At-Home Orders. The final winner will be determined after the hunt ends and bonus points are awarded by the PalHunt Committee. One member from each team must have a smartphone to download the Eventzee app, in order to play. Just prior to the hunt, participants will be sent a code which allows them to begin.

For more information and to register, please visit https://www.palatinechamber.com/events/details/palhunt-8785.