July will bring some extra fun to Louisville this year as Carmichael’s Bookstore sponsors a contest to find Waldo, the familiar red-and-white striped character of the beloved children’s series Where’s Waldo. This year marks the 25th anniversary of the publication of the first Waldo book, and Carmichael’s is celebrating by participating in a nationwide promotion sponsored by Candlewick Press and the American Booksellers Association.
Carmichael’s has recruited 20 other locally-owned independent businesses, each of which will have a 6-inch cardboard cutout of Waldo in his striped shirt and black glasses hidden somewhere in their store. Each participating merchant will have a cling of Waldo in the window to indicate they are participating in the contest. Once Waldo is located in that business, the merchant will give out a card that reads, “I Found Waldo at ______.”
To participate, children should pick up a “Find Waldo in Louisville” search list at Waldo headquarters – Carmichael’s Bookstores, 1295 Bardstown Road and 2720 Frankfort Avenue. After visiting the participating businesses and finding Waldo, they’ll collect the cards and bring them back to Carmichael’s.
Collecting cards from 16 or more businesses and turning them in at Carmichael’s will earn a Waldo button, a coupon for a free kid-sized cone of special “Where's Waldo” flavored ice cream at The Comfy Cow, and an entry for other, larger prizes to be drawn on July 29. The Grand Prize is a complete six-volume set of Waldo books. People who prefer a shorter version of the hunt can collect cards from eight businesses and turn them in for a Waldo button. The contest is open to everyone, but children must be accompanied by an adult.
Waldo is the creation of Martin Handford, whose entertaining drawings of crowd scenes swept the world in 1987. Since then, the Where’s Waldo books have held a cherished spot on bookstore shelves the world over and there are now over 55 million Waldo books in print worldwide.
There is no charge to participate, and the game lasts for the entire month of July. For more information about hunting for Waldo in Louisville, call Carmichael’s at 502-896-6950 or 502-456-6950.
The 20 Louisville independent businesses participating are: Lynn’s Paradise Café, The Comfy Cow, Dundee Candy Shop, The Homemade Ice Cream & Pie Kitchen, Heine Brothers’ Coffee, Lotsa Pasta, Day’s Espresso and Coffee, Clay and Cotton, Dot Fox, Spot 5 Art Studio, Blue Dog Bakery, The Butterfly Garden Cafe, Edenside Gallery, WHY Louisville, Keith’s Hardware, Wild and Woolly Video, Highland Cleaners, Nancy’s Bagel Grounds, Lion Flower Soap Company, and Koch & Company Art Gallery & Frame Shop.
NOTE: Businesses with multiple locations are selecting just one location to participate in this contest.
Photo source: stock.xchng
