Plans are in place for this year's Independent Bookstore Day, to be held Saturday, April 27, and in some places, the celebration of independent bookselling is already underway.
The Greater Charlotte Book Crawl began on April 1, with 19 indies in the Charlotte, N.C., area participating. Readers have until April 30 to get their passports stamped. No purchase is required to get a stamp, and those who collect all 19 stamps will receive a GCBC tote bag and be entered to win a gift card from a participating store. The book crawl also functions as a book drive for the nonprofit Promising Pages, with each of the 19 stores featuring a collection bin for new or gently used children's books.
"If you want to see vibrant small businesses in April, visit these indie bookstores," said Alissa Redmond, owner of South Main Book Company in Salisbury, N.C. "We are uniting together to develop a more literate, connected community within our collective networks, and this event is such a joy to experience."
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This year's Cape & Islands Bookstore Trail, a passport program encouraging readers to visit more than 20 indie bookstores throughout Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket, will launch on Indie Bookstore Day. The trail will last throughout the summer season, and customers who collect enough stamps will have a chance to win a variety of prizes.
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Bookstores in and around Louisville, Ky., are teaming up for the inaugural Read for the Roses celebration. The two-week passport event will run April 20 to May 5, and include Louisville indies Carmichael's Bookstore, Carmichael's Kids, Foxing Books, A Novel Romance, Butcher Cabin Books, Set & Setting, and the Rosewater.
A special Read for the Roses bookmark will serve as a passport, and each passport stamp that a customer collects will earn them one chance to win a grand prize consisting of a $25 gift card to every participating store and other goodies. Updates can be found on social media through the hashtag #readfortheroses.
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In Sandwich, Mass., Titcomb's Bookshop is combining IBD with a celebration of children's author and conservationist Thornton W. Burgess, who was born in Sandwich in 1874. The festivities will include a visit from Peter Cottontail, one of Burgess's characters, as well as scavenger hunts and a craft station. There will be an IBD raffle, and adults will be able to play Bookstore Bingo. Visitors will also have a chance to win a bag of Smith Family Popcorn by playing Chalkboard Trivia.
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After moving to a new location this winter, Swamp Fox Bookstore in Marion, Iowa, will host a grand reopening celebration on IBD. Co-owners Amanda Zhorne and Terri LeBlanc have a ribbon cutting scheduled for 9:30 a.m., followed by book signings with local authors Eric Gapstur and Jen Ferguson.
"This date is not only Independent Bookstore Day, but also the third anniversary of the shop's original opening celebration," said Zhorne. "We can't wait for our book-loving community to visit us!"
"We're super excited to show off our cozy space and provide a platform for authors to connect with their audiences," said LeBlanc.