Friday’s Art Walk features galleries full of local art. It also features an array of clues, hidden amongst them.

Art Walk organizers are inviting the public to participate in a poetry scavenger hunt, a race to visit the nine participating downtown Washington galleries and find words missing from the poem. The poem is “Blackberries” by local poet and East Carolina University professor Amber Flora Thomas, and a map with Thomas’ poem will be provided at the galleries. Filling in the missing words will require a search of each gallery.

“At the end, they can turn in the completed poems and enter their name into a drawing to win a gift basket with items from all the galleries,” said Thad Aley, events and exhibits coordinator at Arts of the Pamlico.

Aley said the game went over well with Art Walk-ers back in October, when the poet of choice was Edgar Allen Poe. The challenge, and competition, adds an extra bit of fun to the event, in which galleries and local stores keeps their doors open late, launch new exhibits and host mini-receptions throughout downtown.

“It seems to work really well and it builds up more excitement and interaction with the stores,” Aley said. “(A word) will be hidden on the walls amongst the art, or in the shops, near the register — at the Turnage, we’re going to have it in among the art displayed.”

Currently on display at the Theatre is the annual Beaufort County Schools student show, an exhibit showcasing artwork from 30 individual students at 11 local schools.

Art Walk takes place Friday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The event takes place the fourth Friday of the month, every other month throughout the year. Participants can pick up maps for the poetry scavenger hunt at any participating Art Walk gallery.