A Sharpsburg scavenger hunt has the potential to be a really big ‘dill.’
The Great Heinz Caper – a live, Clue-like game on borough streets – is scheduled Sept. 9. It combines the punch of live gaming with the perk of learning about the borough’s most famous son, ketchup magnate H.J. Heinz.
“It’s based on a fictional story about a famous Andy Warhol painting that used to hang at the North Side factory,” Organizer Kathleen Stanley said.
“You have to go on hunt to figure out which Sharpsburg business owner stole it.”
The event is hosted by Roots of Faith ministry along Main Street.
Tickets cost $30 per person and are available online now at eventbrite.com.
Proceeds will benefit outreach programs at the ministry. Programs include free monthly dinners, legal clinics and health screenings, among others.
People can play individually or on teams of up to six people. The team of the most astute and fastest sleuths will win $500.
Another top prize, this one full of memorabilia and Heinz History Center passes, will go to the best dressed – courtesy of the Heinz family.
Stanley urged art enthusiasts and sleuths to prepare for “an electrifying heist that will leave you breathless.”
Players will be tasked with unraveling the mystery of who dared to steal the priceless ketchup bottle masterpiece.
“The gripping journey will test your wits and captivate your imagination,” she said.
Thirteen businesses will participate in the fun. Players will pursue the investigation by stopping at each place to solve a puzzle before moving on.
Second Harvest Community Thrift Store on Clay Street is among the stops.
Executive Director Bonnie DeMotte believes it is a fitting way to highlight the borough.
“We are extending our shopping hours that day to accommodate the fun,” DeMotte said. “It’s always beneficial to get new people into the community to see firsthand everything that Sharpsburg has to offer.”
Kate Sirianni, owner of the soon-to-open Love, Katie Distilling on Main Street, is also a scheduled stop on the quest.
The Fox Chapel native said she’s excited to meet people in the community and to draw new eyes to the borough.
“I’m a huge supporter of community,” she said. “Without it, businesses wouldn’t be able to survive.
“Especially after the pandemic when small businesses suffered, it’s wonderful to bring new people into town.”
Registration will take place inside Roots of Faith, where players will receive a packet with clues and maps.
Stanley expects a large crowd to participate. She is seeking volunteers to herd spies and manage clue distribution.
“I think this is something really unique,” Stanley said. “We get to share with people what we do and we get Heinz into the conversation.
“We really want people to see this town and what it’s becoming.”
