Where’s Waldo in Washington Depot? 2018

Where’s Waldo? In Washington Depot, of course! For the sixth year in a row, the iconic children’s book character in the striped shirt and black-rimmed specs is visiting twenty-two local businesses throughout our community this July. Those who can find him in at least 15 locations will be eligible to win prizes on July 31st at The Hickory Stick Bookshop’s Waldo Prize Party. 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.

Anyone who wishes to participate can pick up a “Find Waldo Local in Washington Depot!” 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 fifteen or more businesses will entitle diligent seekers entry into a grand-prize drawing on July 31st, with the top prize being a six-volume deluxe set of Waldo books.

This year marks the thirty-first 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 The Hickory Stick Bookshop here in Washington Depot! 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 250 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 Washington Depot call The Hickory Stick Bookshop at 860-868-0525.