People will have an opportunity to catch a Pokemon and a great deal during this month’s Third Thursdays event in downtown Niles.

For the first time, the downtown merchants’ promotion will include what is known as a Pokemon Go Lure Event from 5 to 10 p.m. Thursday on Niles Main Street.

Barkley Garrett, director of Southwestern Michigan Economic Growth Alliance, said even he plays Pokemon Go after his children got him interested in the popular smart phone game.

“They played Pokemon when they were little. They had the trading cards and played the games on their Gameboys, but this takes the game to a whole new level,” he said. “With augmented reality, the game forces you to get out of your basement and explore the real — and virtual — world around you. I’ve walked more in the last two weeks than I probably have all year.”

For the uninitiated, Pokemon Go is a free game that can be downloaded onto a smart phone. People play the game by searching for digital creatures called Pokemon at real places, using the phone’s GPS capabilities.

Garrett said there are places around Niles — and around the world — called Pokestops, which give players rewards for stopping by.

“That is one of the reasons why you see people walking from one location to another as they are chasing Pokemon — the Pokestops refresh every five minutes,” he said. “The more Pokestops you visit, the more rewards you get.”

Garrett said Pokestops are located at places of interest and that Riverfront Park is home to half a dozen of them. There are additional Pokestops located along Main Street between the park and the Niles District Library.

Garrett explained the intent of Thursday’s “lure event” is to place lures, which attract more Pokemon, at each of the Pokestops along Main Street during the evening of the Third Thursday event (this Thursday).

The hope, he said, is that people will take time away from the game to shop and eat at downtown stores.

“The merchants will each have discounts and specials throughout the evening, many of them specifically tailored to the Pokemon theme,” he said. “On a side note, this game is a huge drain on your smartphone’s battery. Some retailers will have charging stations set up to encourage people to stop in and stay for a while.”

Nearly 200 people have indicated they will participate in the Niles Pokemon Lure event on Facebook.