Businesses encouraging ‘Shop Local’ with Where’s Waldo? hunt

ST. JOSEPH, Mo. (KQTV) -- A local summertime event has become a staple in communities nationwide for 14 years.

Candlewick Press and the American Booksellers Association are teaming up with 325 independent bookstores nationwide, including The Story Collective, for hide-and-seek fun featuring "Where's Waldo?"

The initiative aims to encourage residents to participate by visiting local businesses at no charge, and lasts throughout July.

Families can join the scavenger hunt to find the iconic children's book character, with his red-and-white-striped shirt and black glasses hidden in 20 local businesses.

Some businesses include Nesting Goods, AR Workshop, Moony's Coffee and Tubes Bike Shop.

"We are really excited to bring this national initiative to St. Joe, and look forward to providing a fun activity for locals and visitors that encourages them to shop local this summer," said Ashley Dawson, owner of The Story Collective.

To join the fun, residents can pick up a "Find Waldo Local in St. Joe!" stamp card at any of the participating stores. With each miniature Waldo spot, searchers get their card stamped or signed by the participating shop.

Hunters can also look for the Wizard Whiteboard hidden in The Story Collective. Participants who have collected store stamps or signatures at all 20 businesses will be entered into a grand-prize drawing for Waldo books and other prizes.

All participants are welcome to attend the celebration party at 6 p.m. on July 30 at Geneo's Pizza, located at 809 Francis St.

Martin Handford's collections of crowd scenes in the Where's Waldo? series books took the world by storm in the late 1980s, and since then, the books have held a cherished place on bookstore shelves, family libraries and classrooms around the world.

More than 80 million Waldo books have been sold worldwide and have been translated into over 30 languages.

Interested participants can find more information about hunting for Waldo in St. Joseph and participating businesses by visiting www.stjoestoryco.com/waldo or calling The Story Collective at 816-319-0870.