Preregistration for Find Waldo Local’s Fifth Anniversary Year Begins January 25

Online preregistration to participate in the fifth anniversary year of Find Waldo Local opens on Monday, January 25. 

The 2016 campaign, which runs the entire month of July, brings together small business communities across the nation in hosting scavenger hunts for the striped and bespectacled picture book character. Hunts lead searchers through participating stores in their local shopping districts.

ABA member stores have until Tuesday, March 1, to sign up at IndieBound.org for the campaign, which is co-sponsored by Candlewick Press and the American Booksellers Association. Participation is capped at 250 stores.

“Candlewick wishes to thank the 440 indie bookstores that have previously hosted this Shop Local event in their cities and towns — it’s your energy and panache that has been critical to making this event such a great success,” said Elise Supovitz, executive director of independent retail and Canadian sales for Candlewick Press.

This year, in addition to the Find Waldo Local scavenger hunt, Candlewick is sponsoring the Color Waldo and Win sweepstakes to celebrate the publication of Where’s Waldo? The Coloring Book, which comes out June 14. Find Waldo Local participants who color in a Where’s Waldo? coloring sheet and post their art on Instagram using the hashtag #ColorWaldoandWin will have a chance to win one of five Waldo prize packs valued at more than $150 each.

Candlewick will once again be providing bookstores with a toolkit containing everything needed to launch a Find Waldo Local event in their communities. The kit will include a notepad of coloring sheets for Color Waldo and Win participants, 25 mini Waldo standees, 25 window clings, 125 prize buttons, eight Waldo prize books, reproducible passports, $1 coupons, party activities, posters, and bag stuffers, as well as a sample pitch letter and press release and social media assets for Facebook and Twitter.

In 2016, Waldo hunters will once again be eligible for prizes throughout the month of July at participating businesses and celebrations will culminate in a closing party at the organizing bookstore.

Booksellers are invited to download the 2016 campaign brochure here for full details and registration requirements. Further questions can be addressed to [email protected].