ARLINGTON — Local children who can quickly acquire the most small, red apples this weekend will have a chance to win a big prize.

The Downtown Arlington Business Association will be holding a Back-To-School Scavenger Hunt from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 29.

During the hunt, children will be collecting stamps at participating businesses in hopes of claiming one of three unannounced grand prizes, said Nola Smith, owner of The School Box in downtown Arlington and organizer of the event.

“All businesses will have a (paper) apple and the kids will get a stamp for every apple they find,” Smith said.

The stamps are placed on a small card, similar to a Bingo Card. Upon collecting stamps from all 27 businesses, the children rush to Julie’s Barber and Styling on North Olympic Avenue to claim their prize.

The hunt begins at The School Box, which is located at 314 N. Olympic Ave.

Prizes range from books and art supplies to sporting goods and games.

Although children will be top priority for the vendors, parents also have an opportunity to win prizes, Smith said.

Participating merchants may have additional items available exclusively to parents.

“That will be more like a treasure hunt,” Smith said.

All childrens’ prizes were purchased and donated from downtown businesses.

Organizers are encouraging speed, but each child to finish the hunt will be awarded a prize.

This year marks the second annual scavenger hunt.

Smith said organizers handed out about 40 prizes last year. The top-placing children finished the hunt in about two hours, she said, which means children hoping to snag one of the top prizes should show up by 10 a.m.

Prizes will be on display at Julie’s Barber and Styling this week.

Smith can be reached at 360-403-8885.