One of children’s literature’s greatest manhunts is getting a real life St. Albert version.
The Where’s Waldo? books were created by British illustrator Martin Handford more than 25 years ago, entertaining and aggravating readers of all ages alike ever since. Each heavily detailed page is filled with characters and activities that make it nigh impossible to spot the right Waldo: a lean fellow with glasses, blue jeans and a red and white striped shirt and toque.
The St. Albert Public Library is teaming up with several downtown businesses and attractions to bring the detective-like fun to the streets of the city. The weeklong adventure is called The Great Waldo Hunt.
Barb Moreau, the children’s services co-ordinator at the library, said that each participant is going to need a game passport to get started.
“They will travel, like Waldo, around the community,” she said, indicating the 12 destinations that each player must get to.
Once there, they will have to find the fantastic hiding cartoon character. She noted that he’s hiding in plain sight but that won’t make it any easier to find him. After they find him, they get a stamp. Completing a passport full of stamps gets an entry for prizes from each venue at the end of the game.
Those prizes include gift certificates, a world map poster puzzle, a kaleidoscope, a balloon powered train, and games like Twister, Jacob's Ladder game, and more. There will be Where’s Waldo books too, of course.
She said that this is another good way of getting readers out to the library. It’s also meant to build relationships with other downtown venues too.
“The museum is always wanting to work with us. We’re always wanting to work with the museum, and the art gallery, the downtown businesses too …” she said, suggesting it follows a bit of the ArtWalk template. “We thought it would be nice to work together and draw the community together.”
The all-ages game runs from Friday to Friday, July 4 to 11. The kick-off takes place this Friday from 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. in St. Albert Place. There will be prizes for the best Waldo costumes.
Participants can pick up their passports from the library (or print them off from www.sapl.ca) or at any of the participating venues to get started in the action. For more information call 780-459-1532.
There will also be a wrap up celebration July 11 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will include a mini scavenger hunt, cake, fun and more games.
Preview
The Great Waldo Hunt <br />July 4 to 11<br /><br />Participating businesses and organizations are:<br />• Arden Theatre<br />• Art Gallery of St. Albert<br />• The Bookstore on Perron<br />• Candy Bouquet<br />• Cranky’s Bike Shop<br />• Father Lacombe Chapel<br />• Fountain Park Recreation Centre<br />• Jack’s Burger Shack<br />• Little White School<br />• MusĂ©e HĂ©ritage Museum<br />• St. Albert Grain Elevator Park<br />• St. Albert Public Library<br />For more information, visit www.sapl.ca or call 780-459-1532.
