Find the special bells, ring them, and help Uptown get its holiday wings!

You never know what treasures you’ll find in historic Uptown Westerville.

Friends and neighbors, a great meal, live entertainment and original local art. Deals on a wide array of shop goods – from antiques to custom furniture to unique women’s apparel. All that and more is available, depending only on where your feet take you.

But the “hunt” itself will become a feature of this year’s holiday fun in Uptown beginning Saturday, Dec. 7, with the launch of the It’s a Wonderful Westerville Uptown Scavenger Hunt.

For the Uptown Scavenger Hunt, running from Dec. 7 through Dec. 31, visitors are invited to visit Uptown businesses and search out the “It’s a Wonderful Westerville” bells hidden within.

The 26 participating Uptown businesses are listed below. At any of them, you can pick up a Scavenger Hunt Clues Sheet and get in the hunt – for the chance to win an Uptown Gift Basket! Packed with products and gift cards from your favorite Uptown stores and eateries, it’s like a gift straight from Santa’s sleigh!

Once you have the Clues Sheet, the Uptown Scavenger Hunt has four steps. Get the whole family involved!

1. Match the clues on the sheet to the corresponding businesses throughout December, enter the businesses, and find the “It’s a Wonderful Westerville” bell to ring.
2. Then scan the QR code on the form, and enter online to win an Uptown Gift Basket, valued at $200! Find the bell in 12 participating businesses and get one drawing entry, visit all 26 businesses and get two entries into the drawing! The deadline to submit online entries is Dec. 31.
3. Join us in celebrating and supporting local Uptown businesses! Snap a photo with our “It’s a Wonderful Westerville” bells while you’re out and about, and share it on Facebook or Instagram. Be sure to tag Uptown Westerville Inc. and the business you’re visiting!
4. Uptown Inc. will have a random drawing from all entries on Jan. 6, to choose our lucky winner. The winner will be notified by email. No purchase is required to participate or win.

Pick up the Uptown Scavenger Hunt Clues Sheet at any of the following, participating businesses.

• Westerville Jewelers
• Edwin Loy Home
• Abbey Rose
• Deja Vu
• Generations PAC
• Birdie Books
• Columbus Running Co.
• Meza Wine Shop
• A Twist on Olives
• Java Central or Espresso Air
• Amish Originals
• Kurt McCurdy, Howard Hannah
• Stone and Sparrow
• Blend Candle Co.
• Cinda Lou’s
• Pure Roots
• Westerville Antiques
• My Cousin’s Cottage
• Megan Lee Designs
• Good Vibes Winery
• Westerville Florist
• Morgan’s Treasure
• David Myers Art Studio & Gallery
• Blue Turtle Tea and Spice
• Flavor and Fire
• Schneider’s Bakery

The It’s a Wonderful Westerville Uptown Scavenger Hunt is part of the 2024 Holidays in Uptown celebration, sponsored by RMW Wealth Advisors. Keep up with all the Uptown festivities on Uptown Inc’s calendar.

City Tree lighting, Parade of Lights set for Friday evening

Be sure to kick off the season Uptown with the annual Westerville Parade of Lights and Holiday Tree Lighting on the evening of Friday, Dec. 6.

The Parade of Lights procession will begin at 6:30 p.m. from the Home Street parking lot and will travel south on State Street to Walnut Street.

The big man in red will light the tree (7 p.m.) with a touch of holiday magic at Westerville City Hall, 21 S. State St.

Uptown merchants and restaurants will be open for your holiday shopping needs.

PLEASE NOTE: State Street will close between East Park and West Home Streets from 5:30-9 p.m.

Enjoy the Lighting in the Westerville City Hall Courtyard at 7 p.m. Hot chocolate and cookies will be offered for attendees. The Parade of Lights will include a procession of City Fire Division, Electric Department and Service Division vehicles decked out in holiday decorations.

Visit with Santa Dec. 7 at the McCurdy Howard Hannah offices

If you’re getting into the hunt Saturday, Dec. 7, you also can bring the kids to visit Santa and Mrs. Claus at the Kurt McCurdy Howard Hunt office, 42 N. State St. The Kringles will be on hand from 1-4 p.m.

Participants can get their picture taken with Santa and Mrs. Claus, and enter into hourly drawings for a free turkey. Children visiting with the Kringles also will receive a coupon for Whit’s Frozen Custard, located next door at 46 N. State.

The McCurdy Howard Hannah office also is conducting a food drive for the Westerville Area Resource Ministry food pantry. Bring your non-perishable food donations for W.A.R.M. (or make a donation by check) to the office Saturday, or throughout the month of December.