For more than a decade, local families spent their Julys exploring Morgan Hill in search of a familiar red-and-white-striped book character. Today, that beloved tradition has a new twist: Dog Daze of Summer, a uniquely Morgan Hill summer adventure that brings families, local businesses, and the community together for a month of fun.
Organized by BookSmart Community Advantage (BCA), Dog Daze of Summer builds on all the things Morgan Hill loved about the many years of Where’s Waldo Local: discovering new places around town, visiting favorite local businesses, enjoying a free family activity, and celebrating the importance of shopping local.
Instead of searching for Waldo, participants pick up a Puppy Passport and spend the month of July visiting participating businesses throughout Morgan Hill. At each stop, families search for a hidden puppy, record what they find in their passport, and get to know the local shops, restaurants, and organizations that help make our community special.
The adventure is designed to encourage families to explore Morgan Hill and discover businesses they might otherwise never have visited. It’s also a fun reminder that choosing to shop, eat, and spend locally helps support the people and businesses that make Morgan Hill a vibrant place to live.
And, of course, there are prizes! Participating businesses contribute prizes and treats, and completed Puppy Passports can be entered into a prize drawing. The month wraps up with a community celebration at BookSmart, where participants can gather for more fun and celebrate another summer of exploring Morgan Hill.
From Waldo to Dog Daze
Dog Daze of Summer grew out of Morgan Hill’s long-running participation in Find Waldo Local, a national program created by Candlewick Press and the American Booksellers Association to encourage people to visit independent bookstores and other local businesses.
For more than ten years, BookSmart and BookSmart Community Advantage brought Find Waldo Local to Morgan Hill each July. Families searched for tiny Waldos hidden in businesses around town, collected stamps in their passports, joined volunteers dressed as Waldo in celebrating at the Fourth of July parade, and came together for an end-of-summer wrap party and prize drawing.
When Morgan Hill’s participation in the Waldo program came to an end, BCA wanted to keep the fun going. Dog Daze of Summer was born, taking the spirit of the longtime tradition and turning it into something all our own.
The first Dog Daze of Summer brought puppies to businesses throughout Morgan Hill in July 2025, and the adventure returned for its second annual year in July 2026. Once again, families spent the month hunting for hidden pups, filling their Puppy Passports, supporting local businesses, and enjoying a little extra summer fun along the way.
After all those years of searching for Waldo, we’re delighted to have a new tradition that is distinctly Morgan Hill, and we’re looking forward to seeing where the puppies turn up next.
Dog Daze of Summer will return!
Check back in Summer 2027 for details about the 3rd Annual Dog Daze of Summer, including how to get your Puppy Passport, participating locations, prizes, special activities, and more.