Families in Denver, Colorado, clamor for City Floral Garden Center’s annual pumpkin scavenger hunt.
Family-friendly activities, particularly those that are free, can be hard to find. City Floral Garden Center came up with an idea that fills the void for residents of Denver, Colorado: a pumpkin scavenger hunt. After three years, the event has become a fall tradition for many customers with children.
On Saturday, Oct. 27, City Floral staff planted 50 local farm-grown pumpkins around the company’s 70,000 square-foot greenhouse, hiding them throughout the space. Employees invited participants to keep the pumpkins they found. They also awarded prizes, including $50 gift cards, 10-inch house plants and 20-inch mixed wreaths.
People lined up “well in advance” of the 10 a.m. start time said marketing director Kathy Muffenbier, who added that the shop saw a “notable” increase in foot traffic on Saturday compared to regular business hours.
“Many of our participants are returnees. They are local families who are either regular customers, live in the neighborhood, or have heard of the event by word of mouth,” Muffenbier said. “They participate because it is a fun, family-oriented activity and it gives people the opportunity to shop our huge selection of pumpkins, Halloween items and many other products we carry.”
The shop relied on social media and email marketing to advertise the scavenger hunt. One post featured employees juggling pumpkins. Others included amusing cartoons, such as a sleuth with a magnifying glass.
“We host events like these because they give us an opportunity to showcase our garden center and all our products,” Muffenbier said. “We have a loyal following of customers who participate in this event on a regular basis, but it’s also an opportunity to engage our neighborhood and community.”
Mackenzie Nichols is a contributing writer for the Society of American Florists
