Second annual Snowman Hunt to help RVC businesses

The Rockville Centre Chamber of Commerce’s second annual Snowman Hunt began on Nov. 25 — Small Business Saturday — and will last through Dec. 23. More than 30 local businesses have placed a stuffed snowman in their shop, and children ages 12 and younger are encouraged to search for them.

The initiative is one way the chamber is encouraging residents to shop locally during the holiday season. Also to promote Rockville Centre’s downtown, the village is offering free parking on each Saturday in December.

Lisa Umansky, owner of Polka Dot Pound Cake on Long Beach Road, said she got the idea from a friend in Maryland, whose hometown does something similar. “I put my little twist on it and thought it would be a great event to kick off Small Business Saturday, promoting our small shopkeepers,” she added.

Participants can pick up a Snowman Hunt flyer in any of the participating businesses, which will then be stamped by each storeowner with each snowman that a child finds. When a child finds 15, their flyer will be collected and entered into a drawing in January. The child will have a chance to win one of four $50 gift certificates and one $200 grand-prize certificate to the hunt’s locations.

“It’s another way to remind the residents here in town as well as in other communities to shop local, to shop small and to remember their downtown,” Umansky said.

The Snowman Hunt was a hit last year, she added, as it allows businesses the opportunity to can gain customers, and even provided a Friday night activity for some youngsters.

“…It’s a nice way I think to bring us all together as a community and support each other,” Umansky said, “and help each other have a great holiday season.”