Prizes for shopping local? 34 Sacramento businesses take part in ‘Explore Midtown’

Midtown Sacramento is celebrating its small businesses through the end of summer and into fall with a fun game that offers big rewards.

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The Explore Midtown Pass is back for the third year in a row, encouraging Sacramentans to dive into discovering their neighborhood small businesses. This year, more than 30 businesses are participating in the game-like activity.

Kelly Greenfield, senior manager of communications with the Midtown Association, said public interest in the pass has only grown over the three years it has been offered.

“This pass is sort of a gamified way to get people to participate in maybe something that they’re they’re already doing,” Greenfield said. “They might already be going to have a drink at Der Biergarten, or they might already be wanting a burger at Roscoe’s or shopping at Time Tested Books.”

The game launched July 13 and runs through Oct. 11. Here’s how you can participate and have the chance to win prizes from midtown businesses.

How to use the Explore Midtown Pass

The pass is exclusively available online and best experienced on a mobile device.

Participants can sign up at exploremidtown.org/pass, where they will gain access to a web and mobile app for the game. There, users can check in to a host of midtown businesses, redeem coupons, earn points and earn rewards.

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Some businesses offer discounts or free items for those using the Explore Pass. Mexican-Syrian restaurant Meza California is giving a free agua fresca to participants when they dine at the restaurant, and the Sacramento Comedy Spot will have buy-one-get-one free tickets for Friday and Saturday evening shows. According to Greenfield, the offers will change month to month.

Check-ins and using the deals offered in the pass will earn participants between 50 and 200 points, which can later be redeemed for prizes. Greenfield said that prizes will appear for a limited time in the Explore Midtown Pass web app, so users should continue checking in and using the digital passport whenever they’re shopping in midtown.

In previous years, prizes have usually been gift cards to midtown Sacramento businesses, with a final grand prize raffle for a gift card bundle worth $1,000, Greenfield said.

“We definitely would encourage people to use it more than once, because the deals are changing, and there’s things beyond just eating and drinking,” she said. “ There’s hair salons, there’s a massage studio, there’s shopping, so it’s really for anyone.”

Which businesses are participating in Explore Midtown Pass?

This year, 34 local businesses across midtown and dipping into East Sacramento are part of the Explore Pass. According to Greenfield, it’s possible that even more businesses will join the roster during the pass’s run.

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Here’s where you can earn points and redeem prizes through October:

• Acheson Wine Company, 1629 19th St.
• Alchemy Salon and Spa, 3016 J St.
• Azul, 1050 20th St.
• Barwest, 2724 J St.
• Blue Cue, 1004 28th St.
• Cafe Bernardo — Midtown, 2730 Capitol Ave.
• Cantina Alley, 2320 Jazz Alley
• Centro Cocina Mexicana, 2730 J St.
• Der Biergarten, 2332 K St.
• The Flamingo House, 2315 K St.
• Gami Burger, 2301 K St., Suite 100
• The Golden Bear, 2326 K St.
• Harlow’s, 2708 J St.
• Historic Star Lounge, 2719 K St.
• Kin Thai Street Eatery, 1050 20th St., Suite 180
• The Lock & Key – Tapas + Bar, 2718 J St.
• LowBrau, 1050 20th St.
• Mango’s Sacramento, 1930 K St.
• Meza California, 1415 16th St.
• Midtown Bliss Home & Gifts, 2722 R St.
• Octopus Baja, 2731 K St.
• Omakase Por Favor – Midtown, 1050 20th St., Suite 150
• Paragary’s, 1401 28th St.
• Paws and the Palette, 1014 24th St.
• Pizzasaurus Rex, 2322 K St.
• Planted Foods Cafe, 2701 Capitol Ave.
• Refill Madness, LLC, 1828 29th St.
• Roscoe’s Bar & Burgers, 2007 K St.
• Sacramento Comedy Spot, 1050 20th St., Suite 130
• Sacramento Massage Studio, 2301 J St., Suite 100
• Style For It, 2015 J St., Suite 203
• Sugar Shack Boutique, 2425 J St.
• Tea Bar & Fusion Café, 2700 Capitol Ave.
• Time Tested Books, 1114 21st St.