Several area attractions will be open to the public for free this weekend.

Doors Open Jamestown will be held Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. featuring several area attractions, which will include some new venues. The event is designed to welcome area residents to visit interesting attractions right here in their own backyard.

The event is sponsored by the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce, Jamestown Community Chamber of Commerce and DoubleTree by Hilton Jamestown. Doors Open Jamestown is organized by the Jamestown Renaissance Corporation and Jamestown Up Close, with support from the Jamestown Community Chamber of Commerce.

The event features free admission to a number of area attractions, many of which will be offering special events or features on site. This year’s attractions include Audubon Community Nature Center; Busti Grist Mill; Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce; Chautauqua Harbor Hotel; Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame; Children’s Activity Corner; Daughters of the American Revolution; DoubleTree by Hilton Jamestown; Fenton History Center; James Prendergast Public Library; Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Museum; Martz-Kohl Observatory; Marvin Community House; National Comedy Center (preregistration was required and has been sold out); Reg Lenna Center for the Arts; Robert H. Jackson Center; and Roger Tory Peterson Institute of Natural History.

One of the new attractions this year will be the Children’s Activity Center, located at 14 E. Second St. Linda Andrews, Children’s Activity Center board member, said parents will be able to play with their children at the center for free without having to pay the normal $5 charge for each child. She said the center will be part of the basket giveaway and scavenger hunt that will be taking place during the event.

Each of the attractions will be given away a basket made up of materials donated by all of the attractions. Anyone that visits an attraction will receive entry to that attraction’s giveaway.

There will also be a purchase/scavenger hunt raffle. Entry to this giveaway can be earned through either completing five scavenger hunt questions, which will be posted online the day of the event and available at all attractions, or by making a $10 purchase at any attraction or downtown business.

The giveaway will be giving away three prize packages, all of which contains a one night stay at the DoubleTree by Hilton Jamestown, $20 gift card to Pearl City Hops, $30 Shoptauqua Gift Card from the chamber of commerce and $30 to a downtown restaurant or retailer of your choice from Jamestown Up Close. To enter, take a picture of your scavenger hunt form or receipt clearly showing purchase amount and date, which must be dated January 18, and send the picture and your name to zach@jamestownrenaissance.org; or stop by the information station inside Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce, located at 300 N. Main St., with the scavenger hunt or receipt before 5 p.m. Saturday.

Another new attraction this year will be the DoubleTree by Hilton Jamestown, located at 150 W. Fourth St.

Brandon Wade, DoubleTree general manger, said the hotel will be participating in the scavenger hunt. Also, the hotel’s restaurant, Pearl City Hops, will have appetizer and drink specials for those looking for a warm location to stop while tour downtown attractions.

“My sales team will also be providing tours inside rooms and behind the scenes of the property,” Wade said. “We haven’t really had a chance for the public to see the property, so this is that opportunity. We want the community to come and see.”

Another area attraction that will be participating in Doors Open this year is the Marvin Community House. Marlene Lucas, Marvin Community House cook, said they will have baked goods, their famous pickles and tote bags that have the Marvin House on them available for purchase during the event.

The city’s Strategic Planning & Partnerships Commission will hold its second “Imagine Jamestown Ideas Competition” workshop at the Jamestown Chamber of Commerce Offices during Doors Open. The will provide entrants who attended the first workshop on Dec. 11 an additional opportunity to discuss their proposals with the competition committee. It will also give anyone who missed the first workshop an opportunity to hear an overview of the competition and the submission requirements.

The committee invites potential entrants to attend the workshop between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to discuss their initial proposal ideas and receive some guidance from the committee in shaping their ideas into a concise proposal. Individuals that would like to lend some assistance to the committee without becoming an entrant are also welcome to attend. Assistance is needed in website updating, soliciting sponsors, conducting the third workshop in February and the awards celebration in May.

The goal of the Imagine Jamestown Ideas Competition is to engage the public, educate the community and empower citizens to champion initiatives and join together for positive change in an inclusive and fun way. Anyone with ideas that could contribute solutions to the current housing challenges that the city is facing and provide strategies for rebuilding strong neighborhoods, is invited to enter the competition.

For more information, visit imaginejamestownny.com.

Check out doorsopenjamestown.com for an update on the special events at each attraction, or for more information about the event.