In celebration of Independent Bookstore Day on Saturday, April 26, independent bookstores have been sharing their plans, including special events, speakers, and bookshop crawls. If you are interested in partnering with a store or want to connect to learn more about their plans, feel free to reach out.
Here are how some bookstores plan to spend the day, listed alphabetically by state. Plans are added here every week so check back for more:
California
Arvida Book Co.
We are doing a flash tattoo fundraiser for our local children's hospital! Last year we were able to donate so many books! This year we are hoping to donate 500 books to the kiddos!
Bart’s Books
Night Bart's is in the style of a carnival with amusements spread throughout the store.
✸ Mark Churchill will do a pottery demo on the wheel
✸ Lucy Bellwood will drawing live portraits
✸ Kathryn Carlson will be playing cello
✸ Rob Magill will be playing an assortment of woodwinds
✸ Derek Opperman will be pouring home-roasted coffee
✸ Andra Belknap will be sharing biscotti
✸ Quin Shakra will be selling Plant Good Seed
✸ Ojai’s new radio station KOJY 99.3 will be in attendance
bartsbooksojai.com/courtyardevents/night-barts-indie-bookstore-day
Crawford’s Books
We’ll have live music, a prize wheel, and a scavenger hunt.
Judging by the Cover: A Bookstore
We will be the host store for the Fresno Bookstore Day passport. Our store will have raffle prizes from local businesses and a grand prize drawing for bookstore passport completion with gift cards from all participating stores and exclusive Fresno themed prizes.
We are hosting the first ever Fresno Bookstore Day passport.
Six local bookstores are participating including: Petunia's Place, Hart's Haven , Friends of the Fresno Library Store, A Book Barn Clovis, and Judging by the Cover: A Bookstore. Each store will offer a unique bookstore day experience from live music to poetry readings to exclusive bookish gifts and more!
Customers will have a chance to get their passport stamped and participate in a community photo album sharing the unique finds and experiences they have at each store. We're excited to bring the bookstore community together and strengthen the reading culture in Fresno, California.
Wild Sisters Book Co.
All weekend celebration! Vendors, coffee, book bedazzling, puzzle night, author meet and greets and more!
Florida
The Gilded Page
We’re hosting the 1st annual Tarpon Springs Book Festival in partnership with our city; we're hosting 6 trad published authors in our booth, and have invited many indie authors, artists and vendors to come join the day-long street fair. Will have author panels and kids’ activities.
Lakeland Booksellers
Get ready, book lovers! The fourth annual Lakeland Book Crawl is back, running April 24–26, 2025. You are invited to join the Lakeland Booksellers in bringing local bookstores and the greater Lakeland area together to celebrate National Independent Bookstore Day.
This year, enjoy the flexibility of shopping at your own pace — all seven participating bookstores will offer their Book Crawl specials every day of the event from 10:00am to 5:00pm. Start your journey at north Lakeland’s only independent bookstore, Bookends, to grab your official Lakeland Book Crawl passport and end at the finale social Saturday evening. Be a part of Lakeland’s thriving book community and help us make this year’s Book Crawl the best one yet!
Georgia
A Better Today Books and Boutique
We will have a Herbal Tea Flight Experience, 2 Free Standard Charms when you make and purchase a Charmed Bookmark, Children's Wellness Scavenger Hunt and Men Wellness Goodie Bags — all while supplies last. We will also have an Aura Readings on that day.
Ohio
Gramercy Books
We will have a 20% OFF storewide sale as well as participating in the Columbus Indie Bookstore Crawl!
Iowa
Sidekick Coffee & Books
Author signing, bookish performance by local performing arts school, special merchandise including a book themed coffee drink, and discounts for our loyal book shoppers!
Maryland
Caprichos Books
Massachussetts
Andover Bookstore
We will be participating in the second annual North of Boston Book Trail! We will have a prize raffle, giveaways, lots of swag, and more!
The Next Chapter Books and More
- Children's author story time
- Adult author books signings
- Refreshments, games, & giveaways
Odyssey Bookshop
The Odyssey Bookshop will be having Kids Banned Book Bingo at 10:30 am and a Grown-up Banned Books Bites & Tea at 4:00 pm, with scavenger hunts, craft, and 20% off sale on new books all day!
Word on the Street
- Mini picture book festival with local authors/illustrators
- Sales throughout the store
- Libro.fm Golden Ticket search
- Free store logo tees w/$100 purchase (while supplies last)
- "Teach Me Something Good" event with local experts on various topics
Minnesota
Little Charity Book Truck
Little Charity Book Truck will be at Basecamp Coffee Co. & Unmapped Brewing in Minnetonka 10:00 am – 4:00 pm. We will have loads of new releases and bestsellers. The truck will have freebies including custom "Read more, help more" pencils, bookmarks, and copies of the Indie Bookstore Road Map. There will be free ARCs with purchase, our limited yearly releases of our totes, hats, and journals, and a giveaway prize pack including one of each and a book truck gift card!
New Hampshire
Gibson’s Bookstore
- IBD Bingo Card
- Zoltar-style book recommendation "machine" (a bookseller handing out recommendations like an old school Zoltar machine)
- A #BookHaul photobooth
- A custom Gibson's Bookstore Mad Lib activity
- Find Frog & Toad activity, a "Dear Bookstore" poster for customers to write messages on
- ARC Giveaways
- Double Stamps on Frequent Buyer Cards!
New York
Alice, Ever After Books
We have authors coming as guest booksellers, Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! Story Time with our local Theatre of Youth, a balloon twister, themed cookies, and zine making.
The Bookstore Plus
The Bookstore Plus will have local author Loree Griffin Burns and local author/illustrator Maxwell Eaton III as guest booksellers from 11:00 am to 12:00 pm and 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm. From 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm we will be hosting a "Painted Book Edges" workshop! Bring your favorite book and give it some life with painted edges! In addition to that we will have exclusive IBD merch throughout the day.
The Nonbinarian Bookstore
Our store is participating in the Brooklyn Bookstore Crawl the week leading up to IBD to redeem the passport for a $5 coupon. Day-of we are hosting a neighborhood crawl with the local businesses on our corner (a coffeeshop, record shop, & bar) to redeem the punch card for freebies, & then we will be carrying 2025 IBD exclusives as well as designing custom Nonbinarian limited edition candles & tote bags.
North Carolina
Quail Ridge Books
- For kids: Create poetry with author Michael Beadle
- Author booksellers: Thorn Mooney & Judy Dodson
- Poetry fox
- QRB trivia in the evening
- Raffles for kids and adults on the hour, IBD swag, Libro.fm golden ticket
- In-store scavenger hunt
- And so much more!
Pennsylvania
Woolly Bear Books & Gifts
Woolly Bear Books & Gifts first opened in October 2024. Now, less than half a year later, we are set to open in a NEW space on April 26…Indie Bookstore Day! The new storefront is about three times the size of our current shop and allows for more in-store programming opportunities, including author talks and kids’ storytimes.
Our business’ success is definitely a testament to this committed, tight-knit community and its dedication to the arts. We don't have any special programming planned for opening weekend aside from a ribbon cutting ceremony on the 26th.
We are also taking part in the (FIRST ANNUAL!) Great Pittsburgh Book Crawl between May 10–18. Not quite in time for Indie Bookstore Day but still worth noting! So far we have nearly 20 participating indies across the Pittsburgh area.
Tennessee
Fairytales Bookstore
We are offering book-themed children's programming all day, including multiple storytimes, songs with local musicians, and a local puppet show. We will have crafts throughout the day and free face painting from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm. We also will have a few local businesses and non-profits popped up to add to the shopping fun!
Texas
Title Euphoria Books & Gifts
We will kick off the day with an audiobook walk at the local park. Afterward, we will head back to the store, and the festivities will begin. Activities include:
- Libro.fm Golden Ticket Hunt
- Local author appearances and signings
- Coloring station
- DIY Book Nook station
- Rolling specials
- Bookmark Design Contest winner announcement
- We’ll also enjoy treats from local shops and unveil new T-shirts and tote bags.
West Virginia
WordPlay
Exclusive merch, fantastic freebies, and special prizes — including a free book tote when you spend $50 or more (while supplies last) and $5 Drifters Cafe gift card for our first 10 customers. Author talk and signing at 4:00 pm with West Virginia author Laura Jackson (Deep & Wild: On Mountains, Opossums & Finding Your Way in West Virginia).