Frequently Asked Questions
For participants
Can all ages participate?
Yes! This event is open to ALL ages and is family friendly.
How many cards can I have?
Each person can have up to one (1) card, max and prize redemptions are limited to one (1) individual, only. Any participants found sharing cards or attempting to redeem more than one will have their card confiscated. Please don't make us confiscate your card!
How much does it cost to participate?
You can purchase a BINGO card for $3, each. Cards can be purchased from participating businesses beginning July 1. Visit the BINGO card page later in June for a full list of shops who have cards on hand... there is at least one in nearly every neighborhood.
What do I have to do to get a stamp on my BINGO card? Do I need to make a purchase at each shop?
Purchases are not required to earn stamps for your BINGO cards but they are strongly encouraged. The goal, after all, is supporting these small businesses across Tacoma. Nearly all shops sell items for under $5 and all prizes for this event are supplied by the very shops you are visiting. That said, we want to keep this event as accessible as possible, so if you are not in position to make a purchase, please do expect the shop may have a task for you to complete which may include sharing the business to social media or completing a physical activity. Completion of the task is required to earn a stamp... this is a game after all. A sample task could be writing and mailing a postcard, for example! Please be respectful to the shop and their customers by waiting in line if they are busy.
Where do the funds from cards go?
This is a not-for-profit program. Our goal is driving awareness and traffic to small businesses across Tacoma, WA. Proceeds from the cards go to covering our costs including producing and printing the cards and flyers. Shops keep funds earned by selling Bingo cards to pay for their prizes.
When does the event run?
The event will run through the month of July - from July 1 to July 31, 2025!
How and where will I be able to redeem prizes?
Redemption of prizes can happen during the event only, from July 1 to July 31, 2025. Shops will not support redemption of prizes after July 31, sorry, so make sure you pay attention to operating hours via social media! You can redeem BINGOs for prizes in select shops. You can find out more about prizes and their availability on our prizes page later this month!
How many prizes do you have?
Please visit the prize page for the latest information on available prizes (small and big) as well as how many remain, beginning late June. We've done our best to ensure MANY prizes to choose from, but prizes are limited as they are provided at cost by the business themselves. Play and redeem early for the best selection!
For participating businesses
How can me/my shop participate?
Thanks for asking! Please submit your application via the form on the main menu on or before midnight on June 15, 2025 to be considered. Sorry, no late applicants will be accepted as we need time to print and distribute cards.
Do I need to pay anything to participate?
There is no fee for applying and no fee for being a part of the game but we do have a few requirements this year as we learned a bit about how to best organize this after last year:
- Aside from undo circumstances (like no power on your block for weeks), all participating shops must provide and adhere to regular / accessible hours during the month of June. Please include any planned or scheduled breaks on your application and please post to social media in the case of emergencies so participants are aware of the changes.
- We are asking all participating shops to help us sell Bingo cards this year. This is a great way to get YOUR customers engaged and to help distribute the load.
- Cards will be available from us for $1/ea. which covers the cost of printing cards & posters
- You will keep the $2 from each sale to cover the cost of your prizes
- Cards will be sold on a consignment model; only pay for what you sell. We will coordinate the amount you need prior to printing and reprint throughout if need be.
- Each shop is asked to provide small ($5) and large ($10) prizes. Redemption numbers were very reasonable this year - the more enticing the prize, the more participation you will get.
- Each shop must provide a small stamp and stamp pad that is unique to you.
This event is put-on by small businesses for small businesses; the more compelling the prizes, the more folks will want to participate. The success of this is a real team effort.
What type of businesses are you looking for?
We are looking for small businesses located in the city of Tacoma, WA. We are looking for shops that have a physical presence and posted hours of operation. Hours can be limited; but must be posted in a way where folks can plan around it. We are looking for places that are open to ALL AGES so this can be family friendly, and, at this time, we are not including cafes or restaurants.. though trust we have an idea for you all, as well.
I want to support but don't have a business to include, can I?
Yes! Thank you for asking! We are looking for folks who would like to support this effort either by offering goods and services (eg. maybe you can provide some prizes, maybe you have a service that can produce prizes, or maybe you can help with Marketing and getting the word out). If you're interested, please apply as a sponsor!
How will you choose the participating businesses?
We will select businesses once we have all of the applications. Our goal is to include businesses across all of Tacoma, not just one neighborhood, and to select businesses both new and old, large and small. If possible, we will try to include different categories; it really just depends on who applies!
What is my responsibility as a small business participant?
Share the event to get the word out, stamp cards as folks come in and make a purchase OR complete an activity/task (yours to choose!), help sell cards and get the word out around town, and provide prizes. We will take care of printing of the cards and printing the flyers (we will always take help getting those around town)!