ANDERSONVILLE — Dispensary33 won’t have a street fest for 4/20 this year — but it is marking the weed-friendly holiday by launching a retro, Chicago-themed video game.
Andersonville-based Dispensary33 will not hold its Waldos Forever Fest this year for the second time in a row, the business recently announced. The event usually celebrates April 20 with a street festival with live music and vendors.
Last year’s party was slated to be the first held under Illinois’ recreational cannabis law, but Waldos Forever Fest was among the first major events canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Dispensary33 plans to bring the fest back next year. In the meantime, it has launched a web-based, weed-friendly video game that features Chicago artists for the holiday.
“The video game is a socially distant way for the cannabis community to celebrate 4/20 this year,” Abigail Watkins, spokesperson for Dispensary33, said in a statement. “Next year, we’ll be back with live music and our street festival.”
“Waldos Forever Video Game” is an 8-bit game in the style of classic arcade games. It features an alien named Waldo who travels to earth to visit Dispensary33 and must dodge “L” trains, rats and other foes.
Waldo “powers up” by finding Chicago-themed icons, including deep dish pizza, hot dogs, SUE the Field Museum T-rex, The Blues Brothers’ hat and sunglasses and Chance the Snapper. To pass each level, Waldo must acquire 420 Dispensary33 coins.
The web- and mobile-friendly game can be played by clicking here.
To play, users must give an email to Dispensary33. The entry is also good for the dispensary’s 4/20 raffle.
The game was produced in part by local band White Mystery. It features other local artists cheering on Waldo, including Lucy Stoole, Denali (“RuPaul’s Drag Race” season 13), DJ Tess, DJ All the Way Kay, Bambi-Bank Coulée, White Mystery, Show You Suck and Tenderoni.
Dispensary33 is currently working to expand its flagship location at 5001 N. Clark St. The independently owned dispensary is also in the process of opening its second location on Randolph Street in the West Loop.
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