The iconic children’s book character in the red-and-white-striped shirt and black-rimmed specs is visiting twenty-five local businesses throughout our community this July. Find Waldo Local is a free, family-friendly summer activity in La Cañada coordinated by Flintridge Bookstore and a wonderful way to support local businesses, including Round Table Pizza, Constellation Coffee, Dr. Astrid Soegaard’s dentistry for children, Small Shop showroom and architectural offices, Sport Clips Haircuts, Button Nose Grooming and Pet Supply, C2 Education, Glen-Pacific Floor Designs, Golden Donut, La Canada Pool and Patio, Sport Clips, and the UPS store.
The hunt culminates with a party at the bookstore on Saturday, July 29, from 11:00 AM - noon to award prizes to the winners and for all to participate in more Waldo fun. And, pizza will be provided by our local Round Table.
Starting July 1, anyone who wishes to join the hunt can pick up a “Find Waldo Local in La Cañada Flintridge!” stamp card, which contains the names of all the participating sites; with each Waldo they spot, they can get their card stamped or signed by the participating shop. Waldo has also misplaced his glasses in Flintridge Bookstore, so eagle-eyed hunters can find those as well. Collecting store stamps or signatures at twenty or more businesses will entitle diligent seekers entry into a grand-prize drawing for Waldo books and paraphernalia.
Martin Handford’s collections of crowd scenes took the world by storm in the late 1980s, and since then the books have held a cherished place on bookstore shelves. More than 80 million Waldo books have been sold worldwide, and they’ve been translated into over thirty languages.
Once again, in celebration of Waldo’s longevity and popularity, Candlewick Press is teaming up with the American Booksellers Association and hundreds of independent bookstores nationwide for some hide-and-seek fun designed to encourage residents to patronize their local businesses. There is no charge to participate, and the hunt lasts for the entire month of July.