Angelica Ramos
Contributing Writer
BLACKSBURG- The Town of Blacksburg will be participating for the first time in the annual nationwide Find Waldo Local event created by Candlewick Press and the American Booksellers Association.
Candlewick Press and the American Booksellers Association have held the Find Waldo Local event for 12 years by partnering annually with over 300 independently owned bookstores each year. This year is the first in which they have partnered with Blacksburg Books and brought this event to Blacksburg and its residents. The event is part of an initiative to support local businesses and have fun in the community. Similar to the books by Martin Handford, residents will search 25 Blacksburg stores for the iconic Waldo. This event is entirely free to participate in and lasts all month long starting July 1, 2024.
“To join in the fun,” Blacksburg Books’ press release said, “people can simply pick up a “Find Waldo Local in Blacksburg” stamp card at any of the participating stores. With each miniature Waldo they spot, searchers get their card stamped or signed by the participating shop. Collecting store stamps or signatures at fifteen or more businesses will entitle diligent seekers entry into a grand-prize drawing for Waldo books and other prizes, including gift cards! All participants are welcome to attend the celebration party at Blacksburg Books on July 31st at 3pm. Mayor Leslie Hager-Smith of Blacksburg will be there to hand out the grand prize!”
Blacksburg Books and its follow Blacksburg small businesses like the Lyric Theatre, Our Daily Bread and Fringe Benefit, will have stamp cards for participants to begin their searches for the red-and-white striped shirt and black glasses that have been popular since the 1980’s.
“Each of the participating businesses will have a six-inch Waldo figure,” Ellen Woodall, manager of Blacksburg Books said, “hidden somewhere on their premises. Participants have the entire month to find the Waldos and get their cards stamped. Those who find all the Waldos will be entered in our grand prize drawing, which will include gift cards from local stores and – of course – Waldo books. And the mayor herself [Blacksburg Mayor Leslie Hager-Smith] will be at our Waldo party to present the grand prize! There will also be prizes along the way.”
“We’re excited,” Woodall said, “because it’s an incentive for kids and their parents to visit a multitude of local businesses – including some that they might not have been in before. If we can raise awareness and foot traffic to locally-owned shops, we call that a win. In many towns this has turned into a fun annual tradition, and we’re hoping for the same in Blacksburg.”
To see a map of all participating stores nationwide, participants can go to https://www.indiebound.org and click on the “Find Waldo Local” box. The Find Waldo Local event will be held all month long from July 1, 2024 to July 31, 2024, giving residents plenty of time to ask “Where’s Waldo?” and try to find him in Blacksburg.
