This weekend's Second Saturday event to feature Pokemon Go

This weekend, businesses on Holton’s Town Square are encouraging shoppers to treat bargains like Pokemon — “gotta catch ‘em all!” 

For September’s Second Saturday promotion, businesses around the Square are offering an evening geared toward the popular “augmented reality” game Pokemon Go from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, according to April Lemon of More Than Lemons.

Businesses will be dropping “lures” during Saturday’s event to bring shoppers into their stores to catch not only Pokemon — virtual creatures that are captured by the game’s participants — but also special bargains and refreshments, Lemon said.

“It’s all about getting people out to see what’s out there on the Square as a family and community kind of event,” she said. “Several of the businesses have already purchased some ‘lures.’”

Lemon credited Mary Pfeiler of Quilting on the Square with originating the idea to turn Second Saturday into a Pokemon-hunting adventure.

“A lot of people around the Square have been out in the evenings with their kids, playing the Pokemon game,” Lemon said. “Mary had done it with her grandchildren and she thought it was really fun. That led to several people thinking it would be a really fun thing to do.”

The Second Saturday promotion has also led to people discovering shops and businesses on the Square that they may not already be familiar with, and Lemon said she hopes that the Pokemon-themed event will bring in more customers.

“We still have people from town who pop into businesses like my business who say that they’ve lived here forever and didn’t realize that we were there,” she said. “Plus, we’ve had people come in and catch Pokemon in my art gallery.”

In addition to Quilting on the Square and More Than Lemons, participating stores will include The Golden Fleece, Koger Variety, expressions, Penny’s and JM Sewing Center. Details for the event will be finalized at a Wednesday evening meeting of participating stores, Lemon said.