Bay Books, along with 20 other Old Town Bay St. Louis businesses will be participating in the Find Waldo Local campaign, sponsored by Bay Books, Candlewick Press and the American Booksellers Association.

This month, 250 independent booksellers are joining in a coast-to-coast celebration of the Shop Local movement and the iconic children’s book character, Waldo, who recently celebrated his 25th birthday. Brought back by popular demand for the third year in a row, indie bookstores across the country will be hosting Find Waldo scavenger hunts while spreading the buy local message in their cities and towns. The 2014 search will include a newly added character, Waldo’s canine sidekick, Woof, for an additional search-and-find challenge.

As pressure continues for bricks-and-mortar bookstores to innovate and acclimate to a new retail frontier, Candlewick Press, a Somerville, Mass.-based children’s book publisher, has once again partnered with Bay Books and the American Booksellers Association in a month long consumer promotion that seeks to drive in-store traffic, strengthen local business alliances, and engage community members to spread the buy local message.

Starting today (July 1), 21 Waldos will be hiding in 21 businesses throughout Old Town Bay St Louis. Bay Books, Social Chair, Bay Breeze, Mockingbird Café, George’s Girl and Century Hall are just a few of the participating businesses.

Anyone who wishes to participate can pick up a Find Waldo passport at a participating business and collect a store stamp or signature for each Waldo they spot. Hundreds of eagle-eyed Waldo spotters will be eligible for prize drawings and grand finale prizes culminating July 31 at 5:00 p.m. at the Where’s Waldo Grand Finale Party at Bay Books. Bay Books, which has been Hancock County’s only independent bookstore, is anticipating a huge success and response to the Where’s Waldo hunt.

Check out www.mybaybooks.com for more information and a list of the participating businesses.

For more information on this fun campaign, contact Jeremy Burke at [email protected] or 228.463.2688.

Bay Books at 131 Main St., is open Monday-Saturday 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday noon to 4 p.m.