Hug A Monster Day 2014

SML Annual Photo Contest

To celebrate Hug A Monster Day, SML holds a photo contest every year. Participants can submit photos of themselves taking their favorite monster (toy) to work, school, or play. It’s a time to show it off. Amaze their friends. Baffle their boss. Frighten their psychiatrist. We say that hugging your favorite mutant may be the best feeling you have all day, and we like to reward the most clever participants with a little surprise from the SML Haunted Mansion and Blog Laboratory.

Here are a couple of this year’s Hug A Monster Day participants:

SML’s annual photo contest is open to monster lovers all over the galaxy. It’s never too early to plan your photo submission for the 2015 contest. Maybe stage a family portrait. Take your monster out for a picnic, or a romantic dinner. Convince it to dress in matching sweaters. Stand back to back in the buddy cop pose. You can even capture that precious moment when your monster opens the official Hug A Monster Day greeting card you’ve given them.

We look forward to your 2015 photo submissions.

SML #avlcash Treasure Hunt

This year, SML also held our first-ever scavenger hunt around our hometown of Asheville, NC. All participants had to do was follow SML on Facebook and Twitter, solve the clues as we posted them, and be the first to find the prize.

And the prizes were pretty great, if we do say so. Money was hidden inside old horror VHS tapes. There were no strings attached – we operated with a “finders keepers” strategy. All we asked is that winners post or tweet a photo of their find.

Here were the clues to the treasure hunt locations, along with the photo of each spot’s winners:

Location 1: UNC Asheville Botanical Gardens

Let Rocky tell you about the birds and the bees and the flowers and the trees. Be there before 4 to get in the door, or peek around back for the money.

Team Cartwright_UNCA botanical Garden

Team Cartwright’s first win found among the ferns.

Location 2: Aston Park

40 Love. Find the cash. John McEnroe would dig this stash. Off the courts and behind the clay. Finding this prize will make your day. Then up the hill to get your kicks. Bring the kids and have a picnic.

The Thomas Team worked so hard for their win, but it snatched from their grasp! (The VHS was taped to the underside of this bench.)

The Thomas Team worked so hard for their win, but it snatched from their grasp! (The VHS was taped to the underside of this bench.)

Location 3: Riverside Cemetery

“Something has spoken to me in the night and told me that I shall die, I know not where”. . . But we know where. And you should too. Go to his resting place now and find the loot!

Winners Matt and Laura at the gravesite of Asheville author Thomas Wolfe.

Winners Matt and Laura at the gravesite of Asheville author Thomas Wolfe.

Location 4: The bird sanctuary at Beaver Lake

Everybody knows that the Bird is the Word. But the Beaver will make you a believer. Walk – don’t run! – to find this prize. Don’t mind the ones with binoculars; they’re not our spies.

Alan and Nicole didn’t know they were playing, but everyone’s a winner when SML hides free money!

Alan and Nicole didn’t know they were playing, but everyone’s a winner when SML hides free money!

Location 5: Weaver Park

Dream Weaver, We believe you can get through this one right. The batter’s up and it’s time to play. Grab the cash and pick up a fork, go next door for the best pulled pork.

Win #2 for Team Cartwright, by far the most difficult prize to find.

Win #2 for Team Cartwright, by far the most difficult prize to find.

Intergalactic Hug A Monster Day takes place on July 27 every year. It is a day to show appreciation to all the monsters in our lives. Because monsters are people too.

Hug A Monster Day 2014 is sponsored by the Monster Island Tourism Board. Looking for the perfect accessory to give on Hug a Monster Day? Visit our gift shop for great deals and big squeals.

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