Smile Petrolia shoppers

There will be a whole lot of clicking going on in Petrolia.

The town’s marketing committee and the Volunteer Business Group is holding a Picture Yourself in Petrolia contest.

Starting May 30, officials are asking shoppers to take selfies in local businesses and post them to Twitter or Instagram using #PetroliaSelfie. The selfies will be shown on a big screen during Pizzafest and Petrolia’s Big Dig Street Closing Party June 6.

“The idea came from our marketing committee,” says Volunteer Business Group Chair Denise Thibeault – who is a member of that committee. “We thought it would be a good idea because of the construction happing on the main street. This will give higher visibility to our merchants,” she says.

Thibeault adds it will let the surrounding community know “everybody is still open” despite the construction.

There will be plenty of opportunities to take selfies for prizes. The May 30^th kick-off is at the Petrolia Farmers’ Market Grand Opening. Town Crier Les Whiting will be on hand to pose for selfie shots. There will also be a free barbecue that day.

Officials say there will also be an opportunity for prime shots during the horse-drawn wagon tours through the downtown. They run from 11:30 am to 3 pm Saturday starting at Victoria Park.

There will also be street entertainers downtown.

Thibeault is excited to see the photos begin rolling in. “It’s a new idea so it may take some time to get things rolling, once we get people doing selfies the promotion itself will take off.”