Waldo will be popping up in businesses across Okotoks all throughout July.

Yooneek Books is inviting locals to find Waldo from the iconic Where's Waldo series at 22 businesses in town throughout the month of July.

Find Waldo is an annual event held in hundreds of cities across North America, all of them hosted by local bookstores.

Yoneek was approached by Candlewick Press to bring the event to Okotoks for the first time, to which they gladly accepted.

It will be Yooneek's first time heading up a big event like this, and they were relieved to see other businesses' enthusiasm.

"We're a little nervous but we're also really excited. When we talked to people and approached them about doing this, a lot of the businesses didn't even blink, they were like "Done. In.' I think it's just a good idea where it's inclusive for everybody. Limited with numbers, but trying to get a little bit of everywhere," says Yooneek Books co-owner Rae-Lynne Byerley.

During the event, each of the participating businesses will have a miniature Waldo that participating residents will have to track down.

Once you've found Waldo, you'll get a signature or stamp from the business.

"They'll receive a little Waldo stand that they'll have in their store, and they will have stickers in their windows, so you know they're a participating location. We have these little cards made up, it's kind of like a little golf card. It has the rules on the back, and it has the 22 businesses that are participating in it," says Byerley.

where's waldo cardA look at the card showing all 22 participating businesses.

One exception to the formula is that when participants visit the host location, Yooneek Books, they'll have to track down Waldo's glasses rather than Waldo himself. The Byerleys plan to move them each day to make sure there's some challenge involved.

The first 25 people to get 10 stamps will receive a Waldo button and a coupon from Yooneek, and everyone who finds at least 15 will be entered into a draw for a few different prizes.

"We're going to be doing a bunch of Where's Waldo books, and some of the local companies are actually donating stuff as well, so there's going to be a tonne of prizes by the end of the month."

Having been around for about two years now, the Byerleys were glad to have a chance to run an event all about supporting local businesses. They even used a local printing shop for the checklists.

The event will span all of July, with the prize draw happening on July 31.