Will You Find the Golden Ticket?

Courtesy of Faye Pantazopoulos / The South County Tourism Council.

What Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory fan hasn’t secretly hoped to peep a piece of gold paper glittering up at them while unwrapping a delicious chocolate bar? Well, the South County Tourism Council and Hauser Chocolatier in Westerly have teamed up for the second year in a row to deliver a very similar thrill in the form of their “Golden Ticket Getaway” contest. This month, various locations throughout South County, Rhode Island, have started selling specially designed Hauser chocolate bars, but only thirty-one of the thousand bars made have been stuffed with winning gold, silver and bronze tickets. And while the prizes might not get you ownership of an esteemed candy factory, they do provide access to some a whole slew of fun local experiences. See for yourself below.

Three golden ticket winners will get to choose between:

• A two night stay at Margin Street Inn and dinner at Bridge.
• A two night stay at Shelter Harbor Inn and dinner at Farmhouse Kitchen + Bar.
• A two night stay at the Break Hotel and dinner at Spain of Narragansett.

Five silver ticket winners will get to choose between:

• HeliBlock helicopter tour for two.
• Frances Fleet excursion for two
• Rhode Island Bay Cruises lighthouse cruise for two.
• Save the Bay cruise for two.
• Brunch at Ocean House for two. 

Twenty-three bronze ticket finders will have their pick of gift cards from the following South County businesses:

• All South County Luxury Cinemas
• Alley Katz
• Amigos Taqueria
• Black Oak Kitchen
• Caf Bar
• Celestial Cafe
• Cinder Restaurant
• Coast Guard House
• Dave’s Coffee Charlestown
• George’s of Galilee
• Great Harvest Bread Company
• Greenwich Odeum
• High Hope Tavern
• Knead Doughnuts
• Narrow River Kayaks 
• Perks & Corks
• Fenner Hill Golf Club Pub and Grill
• Shaidzon Beer Company
• Sophie’s Brewhouse
• T’s Restaurant 
• Tavern on Main Wakefield 
• Tavern on the Hill
• The Cove

The chocolate bars cost $5 a piece and can be purchased at Charlestown Mini Super in Charlestown, Dunns Corners Market in Westerly, Kitch Mystic in Olde Mystic Village, CT, BankNewport in Narragansett (this branch only), Sophie’s Brewhouse in Exeter and at the Southern Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce in Wakefield. All proceeds will benefit the South County Museum and the contest will run until all bars have been sold.

“This is a fun way to generate some publicity for South County while raising money to benefit the South County Museum,” says South County Tourism Council President, Louise Bishop. “It also boosts our local businesses and hotels. We are advertising throughout the region, leading up to Valentine’s Day and throwing in a little Willy Wonka nostalgia. The contest is in its third year and each year, we choose a new South County non-profit to benefit.”

The scavenger hunt is also a great a perk for the involved businesses in more ways than one, as the South County Tourism Council purchased the chocolate bars from Hauser along with all of the prizes mentioned above. “That way we’re not asking the businesses to donate anything, we’re truly investing in our local businesses and accommodations to give them a boost during the slow season,” adds the council’s creative director, Faye Pantazopoulos.

If you are the lucky finder of a winning ticket, please contact South County Tourism Council at 401-789-4422 to claim your prizes. For more information, visit southcountyri.com.