Local Businesses Join Forces in Beloved Annual Event Celebrating “Shop Local”
Reading, MA – Where’s Waldo? In Reading, of course! Find Waldo Local has become a beloved summertime event in communities nationwide. This year, Candlewick Press and the American Booksellers Association are again teaming up with 325 independent bookstores nationwide, including Whitelam Books, for some hide-and-seek fun. There is no charge to participate, and the hunt lasts throughout July.
Families love joining the scavenger hunt to find the iconic children’s book character, with his red-and-white-striped shirt and black glasses, hidden in twenty-five local businesses, including delSur Empanadas, Marathon Sports, and Tin Bucket. Find Waldo Local is a wonderful way to support local businesses by visiting a variety of stores during this free, family-friendly event.
To join in the fun, people can simply pick up a “Find Waldo Local in Reading, MA!” 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 Waldo’s special 2025 red and white-striped magnifying glass in Whitelam Books! 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, graciously donated by the 25 participating businesses.
All participants are welcome to attend the celebration wrap party at Whitelam Books on Saturday, July 26, at 3:00 PM. Whitelam Books is located in downtown Reading at 610 Main Street, near the intersection of Haven Street and Main Street. This event is free and open to the public; all are welcome.
Martin Handford’s collections of crowd scenes took the world by storm in the late 1980s, and since then, the books have held a cherished place on bookstore shelves, in family libraries, and classrooms worldwide. More than 80 million Waldo books have been sold worldwide, and they’ve been translated into over thirty languages.
