As the City of Ravenna hosts a day of festivities celebrating America’s 250th anniversary, the Ravenna Area Chamber of Commerce’s annual scavenger hunt will also be a part of the celebration scheduled to begin on July 11 at 11 a.m.
“It is going to be a great day to not only celebrate America but learn more about Ravenna and just enjoy the community,” RACC Executive Director Ryann Cline told The Weekly Villager on June 19. “There are going to be so many things that are going to be going on. It just so happened that our scavenger hunt was scheduled on the same date that the City was planning the 250th anniversary for America.”
As The Villager previously reported, the annual scavenger hunt returned to Ravenna last summer after a year’s hiatus so the RACC could tweak the event. Cline said that although there were a large number of businesses that participate in the day’s event, participants frequently did not take the opportunities to browse through any business for too long.
According to Cline, most of those changes were successful so the scavenger hunt will return under the same rules.
Each participant will be given a punch card and a map of Ravenna and will be sent on a scavenger hunt that takes them into several businesses looking for specific items or pictures.
Cline added that the changes made to the event help show participants the hidden gems of Ravenna.
“I realized very quickly that there are a lot of hidden treasures in Ravenna. Even some of the locals don’t necessarily know much about these businesses. We wanted to get them into the actual businesses themselves to look around at some of their items. That is where the scavenger hunt did come about,” Cline said.
In keeping up with the day’s theme, Cline said that each business will offer clues or items that celebrate America’s 250th anniversary.
“We want to leave that up to the actual businesses themselves because we want them to have the ability to represent themselves and the way that they feel would be the best avenue for them to support their businesses,” she said.
Cline noted that the RACC was inspired to incorporate the theme of America’s 250th anniversary into the event.
“It shows that the entire community is getting together for a bigger purpose than only celebrating America — also showing the unity and community pride for Ravenna,” she added.
She acknowledged the City of Ravenna’s festival will be a big attraction, but the RACC is confident that any participants in America’s 250th celebration will also be encouraged to join in the scavenger hunt.
“The fact is, there is already going to be an event going on downtown that is a huge celebration, so why not capitalize on that opportunity to draw more people into each business,” Cline said. “It is going to be a win for all.”
She said the overarching theme of America’s 250th celebration has not only inspired the RACC to align its scavenger hunt with the theme but has also inspired several other community partners and businesses to do the same.
“This is a perfect opportunity,” she said. “You are seeing so much activity. This is going to be a huge event with a collaboration of so many forces and entities that are wanting to join together.”
Cline highlighted how what a good fit the City was for being the main destination in Portage County to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, as the City is one of the oldest ones in the Ohio, having celebrated its 225th anniversary two years ago.
“I think that is so important because we are the county seat as well, so it makes sense,” she noted. “It is getting the exposure to the businesses and the community and a free, family-friendly opportunity to get out and get some exercise walking through the streets and going from business to business and learning a little bit more about them. It is a fun activity.”
