Harry Potter and Waldo, too: a busy weekend at Merritt

MILLBROOK — With “Where’s Waldo?” in the afternoon and a major Harry Potter event in the evening, Saturday, July 30, was an exciting day at Merritt Bookstore. 

Where’s Waldo?

Waldo, with his striped shirt, funny hat and trademark glasses, showed up around 12:30 p.m., to the delight of several children, from tots to age 11. “Where’s Waldo?” coloring books and other Waldo items were available for purchase downstairs, but the main event was the raffle drawing that was held in the gallery above.

Balloons and streamers in bright red decorated the room. Children and adults gathered around Waldo, otherwise known as Chris Turino, who pulled names from a sack, and bookstore owner Kira Wizner, who handed out brown shopping bags of treats for the winners. 

There were enough prize bags available that every child went home with one. Prizes and gift certificates were donated by local merchants such as Marona’s Supermarket, Slammin’ Salmon Gourmet to Go, Millbrook Diner and a host of other local businesses.

Waldo is the creation of English illustrator Martin Handford, and the first book in the series was published in 1987. The funny-looking Waldo travels to beaches, ski slopes and such, carrying items to help him in his travels. Each illustration is a crowd scene, and the reader is asked to find Waldo somewhere within the chaotic picture.

Many children in Millbrook spent part of the summer searching local establishments for likenesses of Waldo. The easiest sighting was at Village Hall, they agreed, and some thought the Waldo at the Millbrook Diner was the hardest. All in all, it was fun and got children reading and walking while looking for Waldo.

Harry Potter

The second event began at 10:30 p.m. and lasted until slightly after midnight. Black streamers and other decorations helped get people in the mood, with some of the previous Potter books on display and owls and magic wands adding to the mood. What wasn’t visible, however, was the latest Harry Potter book, “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child,” which is actually the script of a play.

The copies of the books, which couldn’t go on sale before midnight, were covered by a huge burlap cloth, closely guarded by a stuffed owl and a wizard’s hat and wand. 

One of the first events was a wand-making workshop, followed by a trivia contest; a make-your-own-owl workshop; an abbreviated screening of the first Harry Potter movie, “The Sorcerer’s Stone,” and more. Some people pre-ordered the book so they wouldn’t have to wait in line at midnight. About 20 people were in attendance, 38 books were sold, and, as promised, it was wizardly, exciting and fun.