Where's Waldo? He's waiting for you to find him at local shops across Wake County

Waldo, the bespectacled star of those famous search-and-find books, will be hiding out at local shops across Raleigh and Wake County from July 1 to July 29.

To play along, all you have to do is pick up a "Find Waldo Local in Raleigh" passport, find Waldo at a participating business and get your passport stamped or signed at each business where you find him. My kids and I do this every year. It's a fun way to discover new businesses and, ultimately, get in the running for some pretty great prizes. Quail Ridge Books, which organizes the event along with Shop Local Raleigh, also will be hiding a few extra items inside their shop at North Hills.

The first 125 players who collect store stamps or signatures from at least 10 different businesses and turn their passports into Quail Ridge Books will be entered in a drawing on July 29 for other larger prizes. The event culminates with a Where's Waldo party at 2 p.m., July 29, at Quail Ridge Books. To receive a prize, you must be present at the party.

Waldo will be hiding at these more than two dozen businesses:

Artspace

Burke Brothers Hardware, Inc.

CroweMag Toys

The Cupcake Shoppe

The Devilish Egg

Escazu Chocolate

Everything’s Better Monogrammed

Galatea

Gingham & Posh

Great Yarns

The Green Monkey

Healthy Smiles

House of Swank

Lassiter Distilling

The Local Squirrel

Lucky Tree

Meraki Salon

NOFO @ the Pig

A Place at the Table

Raleigh Little Theatre

Read with Me

Simple Bliss

Sommeliers Roast

SPCA of Wake County

Treasure Quest Mining

Troutman Beauty Affaire

Two Roosters Ice Cream

Uncle Dave’s Kettle Korn