Where’s Waldo? Back in Vicksburg. Candlewick Press and the American Booksellers Association are again teaming up with 310 independent bookstores, including downtown Vicksburg’s Gilbert and Ivy Bookstore, for some hide-and-seek fun designed to encourage residents to visit their local businesses.
There is no charge to participate. The search begins July 1 and ends with the Great Waldo Celebration on Wednesday, July 22, during the ‘Burg Days of Summer.
Families will join the hunt to find the iconic children’s book character, with his red and white striped shirt and black glasses, hidden in 25 local businesses. Besides the fun, it’s a way to support a shop-local movement by increasing foot traffic to a variety of stores and restaurants.
“We are excited to be able to support local businesses and give families one more reason to visit Vicksburg this summer,” said Kimm Mayer, owner of Gilbert and Ivy.
To join in the fun, people can simply pick up a “Find Waldo Local in Vicksburg!” 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. Eagle-eyed hunters can also look for the Wizard Whitebeard hidden in Gilbert and Ivy Bookstore. Collecting store stamps or signatures at twenty or more businesses will entitle diligent seekers entry into a grand-prize drawing for Waldo books and other prizes.
All are welcome to attend the July 22 Great Waldo celebration which will feature a prize drawing. Free Waldo hats will be provided to the first 50 guests who attend the Great Waldo Celebration. Just stop by Gilbert and Ivy.
Martin Handford’s collections of crowd scenes took the world by storm in the late 1980s, and since then the books have found places on bookstore shelves, in family libraries, and in classrooms around the world. More than 80 million Waldo books have been sold worldwide. They’ve been translated into over thirty languages.
For more information about hunting for Waldo in Vicksburg email or call Gilbert and Ivy at service@gilbertandivy or (269) 475-5747.
