Throughout the month of July, you could wander into historic downtown Leesburg and find your favorite red and white striped guy all around town.
The Find Waldo Local scavenger hunt is an annual, nationwide initiative organized by Candlewick Press and the American Booksellers Association that supports locally owned businesses, promotes family-friendly activities, and brings communities together.
Downtown Leesburg visitors could pick up a special Find Waldo Local playing card (like a passport) from any of the 30 participating shops and restaurants throughout the historic district. Inside each business, explorers searched for a cleverly hidden miniature Waldo to earn a stamp on their playing card. Once 10 stamps were earned, participants could visit Birch Tree Books & Plants, the event’s local organizer, to secure a prize. Those that collected 20 stamps were entered into a grand prize drawing at the finale party.
Find Waldo Local is more than just a scavenger hunt. It is a strategic, fun way to drive foot traffic to small businesses and introduce visitors to shops they may have yet to discover. The Leesburg Movement, the local Main Street organization, actively promotes the event. Not only does it drive foot traffic into the district, but it drives that foot traffic into participating businesses and provides an opportunity for browsing and shopping while seeking. And local business owners do a great job of engaging new customers through special in-store promotions, themed story times, sweet treats, and more. This year, Waldo was featured in the Town of Leesburg’s Independence Day Parade and Birch Tree Books handed out Waldo glasses.
“July tends to be a slower month for retailers and restaurants with summer travel, so Find Waldo Local is a great way to draw residents and visitors downtown. Participation from both businesses and scavenger hunters grows each year in such a strong way that Waldo has become an annual initiative for Leesburg. And it’s a great example of how a Main Street organization can help amplify an existing event–rather than building a concept from scratch–encouraging business participation while also promoting it to the public all month long.”
– Erin Weston, Executive Director of The Leesburg Movement
Leesburg’s Find Waldo Local illustrates how creative events can celebrate and strengthen small local businesses, and they invite your family downtown next summer to enjoy a screen-free, community-centered activity.
Is your community interested in Find Waldo Local? Registration typically begins mid-January for a July activation and is capped at 325 participants nationally.
Image Credit: The Leesburg Movement & Erin Weston
Virginia Main Street 