Where’s Waldo? In Mystic and Westerly/Pawcatuck, of course! The iconic children’s book character in the striped shirt and black-rimmed specs is visiting fifty local businesses throughout our communities this July. Find Waldo Local is a great summer vacation activity and a wonderful way to support local businesses and the Shop Local movement in our community, including these partners: Mystic Knotworks, Mystic Pet Shop, Mystical Toys, Maize n' Manna, Mel's Downtown Creamery, Vesta Bakery and many more!
Anyone who wishes to participate can pick up a “Find Waldo Local!” passport, which contains the names of all the participating sites, and get their passport stamped or signed for each Waldo they spot. Collecting store stamps or signatures at twenty or more businesses will entitle diligent seekers entry into a grand-prize drawing on July 30, with the top prize being a six-volume deluxe set of Waldo books.
This year marks the thirtieth anniversary of the Where’s Waldo? books. Martin Handford’s collections of crowd scenes swept the world in the late eighties, and since then have held a cherished spot on bookstore shelves the world over. There are now over 67 million Waldo books in print worldwide, and they’ve been translated into over thirty languages. An entire generation has grown up searching for Waldo and his cast of wandering companions. To celebrate such a special milestone, Waldo’s friend Wenda will also be hiding in Bank Square Books in Mystic and Savoy Bookshop & Cafe in Westerly! Participants of Find Waldo Local will have double the fun searching for both Waldo and Wenda all month long.
Once again, in celebration of Waldo’s longevity and popularity, his American publisher, Candlewick Press, is teaming up with the American Booksellers Association and two hundred and fifty independent bookstores across the country for some hide-and-seek fun to encourage communities to patronize their local businesses. There is no charge to participate, and the hunt lasts for the entire month of July. For more information about hunting for Waldo in Mystic and Westerly/Pawcatuck, call 860.536.3795 or 401.213.3901.