How Bookstores Are Celebrating Indie Bookstore Day 2025!

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:

Alabama

Blue Apple Books    

• Local author Meet & Greet (various authors)
• Door prize giveaways

The Haunted Book Shop

We will have author appearances, book signings, in-store activities, exclusive merch, and, of course, Mr. Bingley, the coolest bookshop cat ever.

Our lineup is packed with something for everyone:

Ginny Myers Sain: In-conversation & Signing 4:00 pm–6:00 pm
Frye Gaillard: Book Signing 11:00 am–1:00 pm
Joe Cuhaj: Book Signing 1:00 pm–3:00 pm

For full event invitation, go to eventbrite.com/e/1255907686699 

Arizona

Desert Bunny Books    

• Pop-Up Shop 11:00 am–2:00 pm @ Livano Avondale

Literally, a Bookshop    

We're hosting an author fest with 20+ local authors in attendance throughout the day, an ice cream tricycle in our outdoor Book Grotto, and hiding a Libro.fm Golden Ticket in the store!

Wijaya House   

We plan to have a scavenger hunt with little chicks that hold secret discounts or prizes. Discounts on all our merchandise, free koozie with every purchase and free flower wrap if you spend over $50. 

Arkansas

Bookish Emporium of Arkansas

• Local Authors and vendors
• DIY Bookmark Station
• Temporary Tattoo station
• Sidewalk Chalk Art Station
• Inflatable Games and more!

The Electric Strawberry    

The Hobbit Experience! (Crafts, book bedazzling, hobbit art, book club, second breakfast plus 20% off fantasy books all day!) 9:00 am–7:00 pm

theelectricstrawberry.com

Underbrush Books   

We have special grab bags, indie bookstore exclusive books, giveaways, special featured staff picks, Libro.fm golden ticket, multiple discounts, an indie publisher pop up, and several new product launches!

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 

Bluestocking Books    

We're part of the SDBookCrawl: sdbookcrawl.com/ 

Books Inc. Alameda        

Community Connection — hosting events every hour for the entire day: 

• 11:30 am Storytime and Book signing —  featuring local children’s author,  CaTameron Bobino for kids ages 5+ Reading from her series of stories centered around Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.  
• 12:30 pm Student Puppeteer Showcase — Meet 9-year-old puppeteer extraordinaire Eleanor Lee Dussud performing 6 selected puppets. Will be in conversation with Jerry T.
• 1:30 pm Meet the spectacular storytellers from Stagebridge, the bay area’s legendary senior storytelling troupe.  Performing stories that are filled with magic, history and inspiration.  
• 2:30 pm Meet three local writers and graphic artists in conversation.  Featuring Rasauhn Ali Tatum, Grey Starr, and LaMarr Thomas. Discussing their current works and shared artistic practices. 
• 3:30 pm Meet Cathleen and James Myers and selected performers of The Period Events & Entertainments Re-Creation Society, Inc. (PEERS),  a Nonprofit Corporation dedicated to remembering, researching, and re-creating the performing arts of the past.  Based in Alameda, their monthly historical costume ballroom dance classes are legendary!  Please join us as they present an hour of enchanting Circa 1900 in store performance, ala My Fair Lady!  
• 4:30 pm Meet Hans and Pedro, owners of Dahaom 1516 joining us to discuss everything about having fun and sharing  the joy of brewing beer with a uniquely Bavarian flare! 
• 5:00 pm —  We are honored to welcome Alameda Mayor Marilyn Ezzy Ashcraft who will visit to help commemorate our 21st year serving the Alameda community!  

Capital Books

Many of our local bookstores are participating in a bookstore crawl with prizes for people that finish all 10 stores. readtheregion.com

Copperfield's Books    

All 9 of our stores will be doing giveaways of books & gifts, gift cards, and a rewards membership. We are also participating in the Libro.fm Golden Ticket scavenger hunt, where customers can seek out a Golden Ticket good for 12 free audiobooks. Some stores will be having author events on the day of as well! More details at: copperfieldsbooks.com/independent-bookstore-day 

Crawford’s Books

We’ll have live music, a prize wheel, and a scavenger hunt.

Hey Books!  

We are participating in the San Diego Book Crawl!

Judging by the Cover: A Bookstore

Soft opening with light refreshments — it'll be our first day in business!

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.

Meet Cute Romance Bookshop

We are participating in our local San Diego Book Crawl which runs Saturday–Monday. Find out more sdbookcrawl.com (coming soon) and on Instagram @sdbookcrawl.

Peninsula Book Collaborative 

We will have: Cookbook authors Meet & Greet with Soleil Ho and  Hetal Vasavada, Children's author Cheryl Tom, prize wheel throughout the day, Libro.fm Golden Ticket and Banned Bookstore Bingo with prizes. Everything is listed here and will have schedule of the day:

peninsulabooks.org/event/independent-bookstore-day-2025

Ruby's Books

Run-up to Indie Bookstore Day: We’re hiding six $50 Ruby’s Books gift cards around Folsom in the six days leading up to Independent Bookstore Day. Clues of locations will be on our social media accounts. 

Libro.fm Audiobook Walk: Meeting at 101 Reading St. and hosting an audiobook walk to our bookstore and giving away 1 Libro.fm credit to the first 25 attendees courtesy of Libro.fm 

Libro.fm Golden Ticket: Find the golden ticket hidden in-store to win 12 audiobooks courtesy of Libro.fm.

Book Basket Giveaways: For every $20 a customer spent, they will get one raffle ticket to enter for the book basket of their choice! 

Indie Bookstore Day Exclusives: Limited-edition books & merchandise available only on Indie Bookstore Day 

Read the Region Book Crawl: Visit participating indie bookstores and collect stamps to win grand prize. Suprise MERCH drop!

UC San Diego Bookstore    

We are participating in our local San Diego Book Crawl which runs Saturday–Monday. Find out more sdbookcrawl.com and on Instagram @sdbookcrawl.

We will be hosting author/artist Susie Ghahremani, book making/zine crafts tabling with harp & theremin music from the Geisel Library, author Cindy Jenson-Elliott, Sandi the Therapy Dog from the UC San Diego Police Department, literary trivia all day with prizes, banned books bingo, a VR experience visualizing a page out of a famous book, created by MAVERiC Studios. And recommending great books!

Underdog Bookstore          

We're open from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm with curated collections from Underdog Bookstore and Enchanted Evermore, indie bookstore day exclusives, giveaways, a vendor market from 12–5 and more! 📚🏳️‍🌈🐶    

San Gabriel Valley Book Crawl: globalbookcrawl.org/cities-san-gabriel-valley 

Warwick's   

• Live music
• Bilingual Storytime to celebrate St. Jordi's Day
• Appearance by San Diego Book Crawl artist and author of Rosemary Long Ears Susie Ghahremani   

We're also part of the San Diego Book Crawl: sdbookcrawl.com

Wild Sisters Book Co.

All weekend celebration! Vendors, coffee, book bedazzling, puzzle night, author meet and greets and more!

Colorado

Books on Main

Join us on Saturday, April 26, for a day full of bookish fun, special deals, and community spirit as we celebrate Indie Bookstore Day! 

🎉 Special Activities & Promotions: 

• 🔄 Mystery Wheel – Spend $25 or more and spin the wheel for a discount ranging from 1% to 100% off your purchase! Will you be the lucky one to get your books for free? 
• 🎁 FREE ARC with Every Purchase – Stock up on books and take home an exclusive advance reader copy while supplies last! 
• 📖 Colorado Bookstore Passport – We’re an official stop on the Colorado Indie Bookstore Passport! Get your passport stamped and show your love for indie bookstores across the state. 
• 🎫 Libro.FM Golden Ticket Hunt – Hidden somewhere in the store is a Golden Ticket that grants the finder 12 FREE audiobooks from Libro.FM! Will you be the lucky winner? 
• ☕ BYOM – Bring Your Own Mug – Bring in your favorite mug, and we’ll fill it with free tea or drip coffee while you browse. 
• 📚 Pay-It-Forward Book Board Launch – We’re introducing a new Pay-It-Forward Book Board in the Kids’ Room! Starting now, customers can donate for children in need to claim a free book anytime. Let’s spread the joy of reading! 

🎭 Spirit Week Challenge (April 22-25): Leading up to Indie Bookstore Day, show off your bookstore spirit and be entered into a prize drawing for every social media post where you tag us (@thebooksonmain)! The drawing will take place on Saturday! 

• 📅 Tuesday, April 22: Plaid Tuesday – Wear plaid and get cozy.
• 📅 Wednesday, April 23: On Wednesdays We Wear Bookstore Shirts – Rep Books on Main or any indie bookstore! 
• 📅 Thursday, April 24: Book Character Dress-Up Day – Dress as your favorite literary character. 
• 📅 Friday, April 25: Books on Main Spirit Day – Wear our merch or teal to show your support! 

📍 Mark your calendars and come celebrate with us! Support your local indie bookstore, score great deals, and enjoy a day filled with bookish fun at Books on Main! 🎉📚☕

Danu's Wardrobe    

We are creating The Beltane Betrayal: A Murder Mystery Dinner Adventure, originally written by Coleen D. Caraway, Founder of Danu's Wardrobe. We will be curating a menu, encourage dressing up as your favorite forest fantasy creature, and providing prizes including the Golden Ticket search for our guests. We had limited seating so it is a ticketed event.

Here's the event page link for more information. 

Edgewater Books 

We are doing Trivia questions for 10% on purchases, $10 giftcards for anyone who dresses up as their favorite book character, and a 3 prize giveaway that customers can enter with every $25 they spend in store!     

Colorado Indie Bookstore Passport — Where customers participating can go to 10+ locations, get their passport stamped, drop off your passport at any participating bookstore on Indie Bookstore Day and be entered into a Grand Prize Giveaway!

Off The Beaten Path    

20% off all hardcover books sale, Local Author Round Up Ft. Ray Heid, Polly Holyoke, Mary Kurtz, and Harriet Freiberger. A Raffle.

Old Firehouse Books

We'll have tea from out neighbor, Happy Lucky's as well as local Mary's Mountain cookies and other snacks! Customers coming in the store can also “fish” for a variety of prizes like a store thermos, 40% discount or chocolate, but the may just get stuck with a dirty sock or rotten banana if they aren't careful!

We're part of the amazing Colorado bookstore crawl organized this year by Pages & Petals! Customers can get their passport stamped by visiting any of the stores and turn their entries in at the end of the month for a chance at a grand prize. We'll also have a store prize drawing for any passports turned in to our store.

Petals & Pages        

Come celebrate Indie Bookstore Day at Petals & Pages on Saturday, April 26!

We'll have special deals on books all day, as well as special activities from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm:

• Champagne, NA drinks, and yummy treats
• Flash tattoos
• Photo booth
• Raffle prizes

We're participating in the Colorado Indie Bookstore Passport! All month long, come get pick up a passport in-store and get it stamped by us and any participating indie. Get 10 or more stamps to be entered into the drawing for a grand prize. For more info, check out @coloradoindiebookstores on Instagram.

Townie Books        

Be a part of the Colorado Passport! Select Independent Bookstore Day items available for purchase.

West Side Books   

Colorado Indie Bookstore Day Passport, giveaways and such!

Connecticut

Byrd's Books

We’ll have Indie Bookstore Day special merchandise, kid's goodie bags, book specials and themed bundles (while supplies last).

We are part of the CT Book Trail Passport for the weekend of Independent Bookstore Day (it CAN extend through Labor Day for “Slow and Steady” participants).

The Hickory Stick Bookshop    

• Mimosas
• Libro.fm Golden Ticket
• CT Book Trail
• Create Book Spine Poetry
• Guess The Shredded Book
• Blind Date with a Book
• Come and see our Poetree, IBD merchandise....and lots more!

Rainy Day Paperback 

• Libro.fm Golden Ticket. 
• Visitors can take home free seeds from our seed bank!

RJ Julia Booksellers    

We are holding a double celebration since we are also celebrating our 35th Anniversary this year. We will hold a Fill the Bus Book Drive to collect new and gently used children's books supporting Read to Grow. We are giving away free ice cream to anyone who donates and offering schools the chance to compete to win a $500 Gift Certificate if their school donates the most books. We will have gifts for our Booklover Members, Special Drinks in the RJ Café, and Scratch Tickets to win discounts and even more gifts. We will also be participating in the Connecticut Book Trail Passport Challenge!

Florida

Bookends: Literature & Libations    

Bookends: Literature & Libations will be popping up at the Gasparilla Distillery & Cocktail Bar to celebrate Independent Bookstore Day. The celebration will begin at 1:00 pm. Stop by early if you are looking for IBD exclusive items so you don’t miss out on them.

There will be cake (limited supply), bookish crafts & activities throughout the day. Mystery Book Club and Romantasy Study Group will be meeting in the evening.

Event Location and Hours:
Gasparilla Distillery
2102 E 4th Ave, Tampa, FL 33605
1:00–9:30 pm

Copperfish Books       

We're open from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. Come join us for lots of bookish fun!

• Meet the Authors! Patrice McDonough (Murder by Lamplight and A Slash of Emerald) and A. R. Farina (Welcome To Mansfield and That Other Dashwood Girl) will be here to chat with you and sign copies of their books 11:00 am – 12:30 pm.
• Enjoy a mimosa! We'll also have water and yummy treats.
• Spin the prize wheel! Make a purchase and spin the wheel for a gift!
• Book Stack Drawings! We'll have several stacks of new books to win!
  And more in-store fun for everyone!

Ersula's History Shop

We have started a playlist for people to show appreciation to authors for including their stories in their books. They are to hold up the book and open with "I'm in this book." Then, they say, "Thank you, [author's name], for including my story on page [###]." They will then be asked to share it on their social media. The most savvy may be asked to share live from the store.

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!

Portkey Books   

We're kicking the day off bright and early with a Basgiath Breakfast Club: Onyx Storm Book Club & Breakfast at 9:00 am at Paradise Restaurant! shop.portkeybooks.com/events 

Georgia

All Things Inspiration Giftique

All Things Inspiration Giftique Christian Bookstore Mableton & Marietta locations will be having Storytime and a Bookmark Design Contest for Children, Bookstore Bingo, Local Indie Author Meet and Greet, Special Sales on Books/Bibles and other Bookish Goodies, and of course many Giveaways.

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. 

The Book Cellar       

• Refreshments
• Music
• Free giveaways 
• Bookstore crawl

Charis Books & More

We have exclusive Indie Bookstore Day merch and freebies. We have a golden ticket from Libro.fm, book signings with Mo Netz & Tara Roberts, and an in-person open mic in celebration of Lesbian Day of Visibility (https://www.charisbooksandmore.com/event/independent-bookstore-day-2).

A Small Place

We will be doing giveaways, an author talk with Dr. Leggett-Robinson around her book When It's All Said And Done and otherwise a festive day of music and vendors. We're also in the GA Indie Bookshop Hop.

Virginia Highland Books    

1.  Participating in the Indie Bookstore Day GA Bookshop Hop!
2.  Having an author signing event from 12:00 pm  to 2:00 pm

Meet the Authors: Celebrate Independent Bookstore Day with Storytime, Music, and Creative Fun!

Join us for an exciting Author Meet & Greet with Danny Schnitzlein, McCall Hoyle, and Kelly Young-Silverman in celebration of Independent Bookstore Day — a perfect way to support local authors and bookstores!

🎸 Music and Stories with Danny: Enjoy a sing-along storytime with Danny and his guitar, followed by monster drawing fun and a creative craft inspired by his award-winning books, including The Monster Who Ate My Peas.

🖍️ Chat & Color with McCall: Dive into McCall’s heartfelt middle-grade novel, Stella, while kids enjoy a fun, book-themed coloring station — complete with stickers and pages to take home!

✨ Storytime & Craft with Kelly: Join Kelly for a delicious Georgia adventure with a reading of Hot Boiled Peanuts: A Georgia Food Tour and the Easter-favorite Where’s Wilson?, followed by a peanut-themed craft.

Idaho

Shared Stories

We are celebrating the 100th birthday of The Great Gatsby with an extravagant Roaring ’20s Indie Bookstore Day Exclusive party. We will have food and drinks, music, and a Clue themed scavenger hunt in our area in partnership with other local businesses! Indie Bookstore Day 2025 will also be in celebration of Shared Stories reaching 1 year open!

Illinois

About Time Bookstore      

Join us on Saturday, April 26, for a day of giveaways, an author meet & greet, and more for Independent Bookstore Day! Extended store hours 9am-6pm.

Special Activities & Promotions: 

• About Time Bookstore is participating in the Chicago bookstore crawl, a city-wide all-day adventure that encourages book lovers to visit 10–15 independent books stores that day to earn 10–15% off at every store for the entire year! chilovebooks.com
• The Northern IL / Wisconsin passport passport program will be ongoing (more details on Blue House Books events page).
• Thriller author, Hannah Morrissey will be at the store for a meet & greet and signing from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm. Hannah Morrissey is the author of the Black Harbor suspense series which includes Hello, Transcriber, The Widowmaker, When I’m Dead, and her newest 2025 release The Unlucky Ones. 
• Libro.fm Golden Ticket Hunt — Hidden somewhere in the store is a Golden Ticket that grants the finder 12 FREE audiobooks from Libro.fm! 
• Indie Bookstore exclusive merch to shop
• The first 15 people to spend $50+ will receive a FREE tote bag.
• Anyone who makes a purchase will be entered into a raffle for goodies and gift certificates from local businesses in Libertyville. 

Bookishly Happy   

We are celebrating the 25th and 26th! When customers spend $35 they can pick a prize from our jar! Either a discount, bookish extra, or gift card!     

We are partnering with The Well-Read Moose and doing a bookstore punch card! When folks make a purchase at both stores they get entered to win our grand prize giveaway! Both stores are also donating 10% of our sales to the Community Library Network.

Bucket O'Blood Books & Records

Bucket O'Blood is participating in the Chicago bookstore crawl, a city-wide all-day adventure that encourages book lovers to visit 10–15 independent books stores that day to earn 10–15% off at every store for the entire year! chilovebooks.com

Harvey’s Tales  

• Libro.fm Golden Ticket
• Giveaways throughout the day: books and merch.
• Author/illustrator: Tom Lichtenheld reading and signing his new book (with Beth Ferry)!
• A visit from Hazel, our Bernese, who will be greeting customers throughout the day.
• Book related contests throughout the day.
• Themed coffee bar drinks.
• We will be a stop on the Chicagoland Book Store Bus Crawl (western route).

Ink & Imprint Books   

Bookish themed cookies. Book and sideline sales. Free Ink & Imprint sticker with every $10+ purchase. First 10 people who spend $50+ receive a free Ink & Imprint tote. For every $10 spent, get a raffle ticket to enter to win one of our raffle items. Find the Libro Golden Ticket hidden in the store to win 12 free audiobooks. Kids bookmark design contest. Kids can sign up to be a guest bookseller.

The Jolly Giraffe  

Local Author DJ Corchin will be reading and signing from his I Feel book series.  We have Sooshi XO handcrafted shaker bookmarks available for sale.  We will have a personal book concierge to help pick out your new favorite read.  New Jolly Giraffe apparel available!

Lit. on Fire Books 

Come celebrate with us at Lit. on Fire Books from noon-6 pm for exclusive discounts, a beloved local author’s book signing, delectable cakes, and more! 

New Book Joy Booktique   

We will be open extra hours from 10:00 am–6:00 pm and will have guest authors Lori Rader Day and Andrew Ludington signing books from 1:30 to 3:30 pm. Every purchase:  free Book Bucks toward your next purchase and entry into our raffles!  Spend $50 and get a free gently used book.  Special IBD merch while supplies last.    

Bring your Indie Bookstore Day passport and if we are your 10th or 15th stop, get a special surprise!  Buy tickets for the Chicagoland Bookstore Crawl Bus Route (Western route) and visit us, along with 10+ other bookstores.  Learn more and reserve your spot at Eventbright.

The Novel Spot 

One Year in Business/Indie Bookstore Day celebration and sale. Buy one get one 1/2 off new and used books, prize drawing for those spending $50+, complimentary sweet treats and water.

Women & Children First    

• Exclusive merch and fun giveaways!
• Right outside our doors, we'll be hosting a Bake Sale for Chicago Abortion Fund!
• Tarot readings by Ogechi from 1:30 to 3:00 pm! 

AND, a match has been offered for wishlist purchases for Chicago Books to Women in Prison (CBWP). From April 21 through May 5, anything you buy for CBWP from the wishlist HERE or in store will count towards the match goal. CBWP, an all-volunteer, donation-funded 501(c)(3) nonprofit, sends free books to women and trans people in prisons nationwide. CBWP and W&CF appreciate the support of friends like you.

Yes! We challenge you, dear reader, to "crawl" your way across the city and suburbs exploring as many bookstores as you can. If you make it to 10 bookstores and get your passport stamped at each one, you get 10% off at all participating bookstores until Indie Bookstore Day in 2026! Make it to 15 bookstores and get 15% off! Both 10 and 15 completions go home with some bookstore day swag, and bragging rights to all their friends. More info: www.chilovebooks.com/independent-bookstore-day

Yellow Bird Books 

• Free goody bag for first 20 guests 
• Noon–3:00 pm: Z&Z Balloon Animals, face painting
• 3:00 pm–5:00 pm: Book Signing by Author McKenzie Burns 
• Libro.fm Golden Ticket
• Drawings for exclusive Independent Bookstore Day books and merchandise     
• 2025 Chicagoland Bookstore Crawl participant

Indiana

Dog-Eared Pages    

• Bookmark decorating
• Blind date with a book,
• Exclusive merch, Golden Ticket hunt for Libro.fm audiobook credits,
• 10% off book sales. 
• $50 purchase = free store mug; $100 purchase = free store mug and book tote

Fables Books

Spirit Week April 22–25

• Participate any day and be entered for our 2025 Indie Bookstore Day Basket. Drawing to take place on April 26 at 2pm 
• Tuesday: Plaid Tuesday | Book Cover Watercolor Workshop: Pt 1 7–9pm Price: $80 | All materials are provided 
• Wednesday: On Wendesdays We Wear Bookstore Shirts 
• Thursday: Siliy Sock Day | Tween Book Club: Phoebe & her Unicorn 4pm | Book Trivia @Elephant Bar 8pm 
• Friday: Book Character Dress-Up Day | Storytime & Stuffie Sleepoever 5pm. We're throwing a cool sleepover bash for your teddy bear, stuffed animal, or stuffie at Fables Books! The party starts on Friday, April 25, at 5 pm, and we'll have storytime, games, and activities that you and your stuffed animal friend will love. After the fun-filled evening, you can say goodnight to your stuffie and leave them at the bookstore. They'll help us prepare for Independent Bookstore Day on Saturday, April 26! 
• Saturday, April 26, Indie Bookstore Day 
  • 10am Storytime & Stuffie Pick Up with Local Author Christi Dee 
  • 10am–12pm Meet Juniper M Limerick author of Anyra, a Young Adult Fantasy novel 
  • 1pm Play Banned Book Bingo All Day : Exclusive Indie Bookstore Day Merch; Free Food & Drink; Photo Scavenger Hunt; Why We ❤️ Indies; Kids Coloring Table, LIbro.fm Golden Ticket

Iowa

Dog-Eared Books       

At Dog-Eared Books, we'll be dropping NEW MERCH and offering free balloons and a free sticker with purchase, while supplies last. We'll have $3 champagne shooters, and you'll get a $5 gift card with every $50 you spend in the store. New this year is the Libro.fm Golden Ticket — one golden ticket will be hidden in the store, and the customer who finds it will receive 12 free audiobooks from our audiobook partner, Libro.fm.    

We are participating in the Central Iowa Indie Bookstore Day Passport! We're teaming up with our fellow Central Iowa indie bookstores for the annual Indie Bookstore Day Passport. Visit each of the nine participating bookstores on Saturday, April 26, or Sunday, April 27, to receive a passport stamp when you make a purchase. Once you complete your passport, turn it into the last bookstore you visit to be entered to win a $100 gift card to THAT store.

See the Facebook event listing for more info. 

Dungeon's Gate    

Make plans now to celebrate Indie Bookstore Day 2025 at Dungeon's Gate–Saturday, April 26! We’re extending our hours to 9:00 am–10:00 pm and we’ll have a full day of Bookish Fun + Events to celebrate!

Bookish Fun:
> New Merch (we’ll be dropping hints the closer we get to IBD)
> Yummy Treats
> Indie Bookstore Day Exclusives
> Bookish Make & Takes
> Commemorative IBD Sticker with purchase
> Find the Golden Ticket & Win 12 Free Audiobooks from Libro.fm
> Roll the d20 for Your Discount on Books & Graphic Novels+

Events: 
>> Pop-Up 9:00 am–3:00 pm
>> Pokemon League 10:00 am–1:00 pm
>> Magoo’s Pizza Food Truck 11:00 am–2:00 pm
>> Board Game Day 1:00–6:00 pm 
>> Loudi's Food Truck 5:00–8:00 pm
>> Puzzlerama Puzzle Competition 7p (BYOB). This is a ticketed event. 

This year you can support Annie’s Foundation (they work to ensure unhindered access to books) by ordering your very own LET IOWA READ t-shirts from RAYGUN (to pick up at RAYGUN or to ship to your home in time to wear as you visit your Central Iowa Indie Bookstores).

Nine bookstores in Central Iowa are partnering together this year for our Central Iowa Indie Bookstore Day Passport Challenge! Visit each of the nine of us on Saturday, April 26, or Sunday, April 27, to make a purchase (no minimum) and receive a passport stamp. At the last bookstore you visit, turn in your completed passport to be entered into a drawing for a $100 gift card to that bookstore!"    "Nine bookstores in Central Iowa are partnering together this year for our Central Iowa Indie Bookstore Day Passport Challenge! Visit each of the nine of us on Saturday, April 26, or Sunday, April 27, to make a purchase (no minimum) and receive a passport stamp. At the last bookstore you visit, turn in your completed passport to be entered into a drawing for a $100 gift card to that bookstore!
 

Perennial Pages Bookshoppe    

•  We worked with Libro.fm to offer a free audiobook with the purchase of the new paperback Remarkable Bright Creatures. 
• Matching tote bags and puzzles from Galison & others to create unique sets, such as the Banned Book tote and the new children's board book, Baby's First Book of Banned Books. 
• Cross-promotion with our local furniture store — each recliner sold gets a free book and each dining table sold gets a free puzzle.

Prologue. Books & Wine    

• Face painting
• Author event
• Spend $100, get a free tote bag
• Treats!
• Libro.fm listening station

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!

Kansas

Raven Book Store

We plan on having our famous Raven Prize Wheel out for people to spin at checkout, as well as the return of some of our favorite old merch, and some new stuff as well! We will also be fundraising for Binc by donating a portion of the proceeds.

Watermark Books and Cafe        

• Libro.fm Golden TIcket Hunt
• In store scavenger hunt
• Crossword puzzle
• Exclusive cafe items
• Make your own blackout poem

Kentucky

Bag End Books    

We're doing sales, giveaways, having local authors and publications set up in store, and having special handmade items just for indie bookstore day! We're also collaborating with other area bookstores to do a "bookstore passport" to encourage people to visit all the local bookstores on Indie Bookstore Day!  We're also collaborating with Bluestocking Social & Your Brother's Bookstore in Evansville, Indiana!

Carmichael's Bookstore

We will be giving away a free book with purchase while supplies last and having a special story time with author Amanda Driscoll. https://www.carmichaelsbookstore.com/event/independent-bookstore-day-storytime-amanda-driscoll. We are participating in the Global Book Crawl and a local book crawl called Read for the Roses because its timing coincides with the Kentucky Derby.

Foxing Books       

We will be hosting pop-up coffee vendor, Carter Coffee in the AM, and  Shippingport Brewing will be pouring beer in the PM. Beechmont Bakehouse will have a brunch selection in the morning, and then they will continue with us for some afternoon food options. Zine Queen will also be with us as a pop-up shop to make your Indie Bookstore Day all that much more special.

Maryland

Caprichos Books

easternshoreindies.com

Curious Iguana   

We will have one golden ticket from Libro.fm hidden amongst the shelves for one lucky winner to find! This golden ticket gives the winner 12 audiobook credits from Libro.fm — a platform where you can enjoy books while supporting indie bookstores like us. Please note: the ticket will not be hidden in our lovely books, just amongst the shelves.

The first 50 customers who spend $50 or more in-store on 4/26 will receive a free IBD tote bag!

Author Clay McLeod Chapman will join us from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm for an in-store signing to celebrate his latest horror novel, Wake Up and Open Your Eyes. Fans are welcome to bring books from home for Clay to sign, and we will have plenty here to purchase!

We’ll have Indie Bookshop Crawl Passports available for anyone who wants to participate this year! The crawl kicks off on Indie Bookstore Day but you have the whole month of May to visit as many locations on the passport as you’d like to win prizes. All details can be found on our pinned post and on the passport.   

MahoganyBooks     

We’re hosting an amazing author, Dr. Tony Keith who will sign copies of his two books from 2:00 pm to 3:30 pm.

Selkie Books of Rock Hall    

20% Off Special Collections including Local Authors and Local Artists    

We offer 10% everyday discounts on our Used Books Collections to our “Special Gentle Readers” including Health Care, First Responders, Educators, Military, and Grandparents!

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!

Book Ends   

We’re hosting 10 authors through the day + a free wine tasting! 

11:00 am–12:00 pm: Story Time with author Carrie Finison
12:00 pm–1:00 pm: Author signing: Stephanie Burt (Super Gay Poems: LGBTQIA+ Poetry After Stonewall) & Kate Cochrane (Wake Up, Nat and Darcy)
1:00 pm–2:00 pm: Kylie Lee Baker (The Scarlet Alchemist)
2:00 pm–3:00 pm: Author signing: Miles J. Unger (A Fire in His Soul) & Christopher C. Gorham (The Confidante)
3:00 pm–4:00 pm: Author signing: Weina Dai Randel (Night Angels) & Jane Healey (Goodnight from Paris)
4:00 pm–5:00 pm: Author signing: Sable Sorensen (Direbound) & Julie C. Dao (Now Comes the Mist)
5:00 pm–7:00 pm: Wine tasting led by co-owner Lauren!

bookendswinchester.com/event/2025-04-26/independent-bookstore-day-2025

We’ll also be joining 18 other stores in the 2nd annual North of Boston Book Trail! Website: northofbostonbooktrail.com

Eight Cousins Books and Eight Cousins Kids    

In the Morning starting at 11:00 am Eight Cousins Kids will be hosting a Frog and Toad Story Time then we will offer a Frog and Toad Craft and face painting. Both will be available until 2:00 pm. At Eight Cousins Books, four doors down the street, we will be hosting a literature trivia from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. The trivia questions will be around the store for participants to find and answer for the chance to win prizes. We also will be holding Blind Date with a Book from 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm. 

Federal Street Books        

Our PRIZE WHEEL returns with spin-to-win, exclusive prizes, including a free flash tattoo from Thorntail Tattoo, patches from Babe Gang Patches, a Connecticut River print by Joe Kopera, exclusive new store t-shirts, stickers, and more! Buy one get one free used kids’ books sale, and free pins and stickers for everyone.

Hygge House Books    

• Sales all day long
• Libro.fm Golden Ticket search
• Raffle ticket for Hygge House Books prize bundle with every purchase
• Free Hygge House Books or Banned Book t-shirt with $100 purchase

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!

Porter Square Books        

Our two main plans are for a Stuffed Animal Portrait Fundraiser and The Great Bookseller Bake Off.

Our crawl plans: portersquarebooks.com/metro-boston-indie-bookstore-crawl-2025

The Purple Couch Bookshop    

• Banned Books Bingo
• Kids’ Scavenger Hunt
• A fresh stock of Blind Dates with a Book
• A hidden golden ticket worth twelve (12) audiobook credits for use on the Libro.fm audiobook platform
• Extended hours from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm on Saturday, April 26, with refreshments to celebrate on Saturday evening, and 10:00 am to 7:00 pm on Sunday, April 27.

Read My Lips Boston    

We will have a pop-up event at Idle Hands Craft Ales in Malden, Massachusetts, from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm.

Storybook Cove

At Storybook Cove our celebration includes:

• Exclusive books and related items for purchase
• Author signing by Erin Finnigan of her picture book ""Monster Wand"" book and monster wand making craft
• No Purchase Necessary Raffle for book and gift prizes
• In-Store Scavenger Hunt  
• Pinwheel Making to Honor Child Abuse Awareness Month

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 

Maine

Back Cove Books    

Illustrators Sarah Sax, Andrés Vera Martínez, Cassidy Wasserman, Tom Booth, and Bevin Holmberg will be decorating our front windows in real time on Indie Bookstore Day! Bevin Holmberg will be creating an interactive community window and we invite you all to come put some paint on the window!

We will also be joined by food truck, Plot Twist Pretzels for a savory and/or sweet snack starting at 11:00 am. Alongside some IBD merch, we will launch our newest store merch. And don't forget to submit your book rec prior to IBD for your chance to win a Back Cove Books gift card! 

Michigan

Flyleaf    

• Free coffee/espresso with book purchase
• Free Flyleaf graphite pencil with $50 purchase ($8 value)
• Free Literature & Libations linen cocktail napkin set with $100 purchase (value $25). 

Gilbert and Ivy    

• Pick a Print (hot press custom t-shirt designs) while you shop
• Libro.fm Golden Ticket
• Bring in beverage from local coffee shops and get 10% off
• Spend $25 get free book.    
• We're part of the MI Book Hop

Golden Hour Bookshop

9am: Bring Stories to Life with teachers from the Great Start to Readiness Program (includes story time and craft) 

All Day: 

• Search for the Golden Ticket (1 year of free audiobooks from Libro.fm). 
• Exclusive items and freebies while supplies last

A Novel Concept 

There will be giveaways. Exclusive merch. A book crawl. The launch of our creative writing club's first zine (!!!). An open mic. So many ways to celebrate the written word with us this year — don't miss out!  

www.anovelconcept517.com/events

Read My Lips 

We'll have blind dates with books, special discounts, and drawings. 

Schuler Books

We are the organizers of a Book Hop across Michigan. The Michigan Book Hop is a month long event across the state that kicks off on Independent Bookstore Day. This year there are 78 stores participating across 10 regions! Choose your region (or more than one,) visit bookstores, and complete other bookish tasks to fill out a Bingo Card to be entered to win gift cards from the participating store of your choice. Get all the details at MIBookHop.com. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram at @MIBookHop.

Minnesota

Beck's Books     

• Free shipping on orders of $50+
• Free Beck's Books IBD 2025 bookmark with every order
• 10% of all IBD sales donated to BINC Foundation

Buffalo Books & Coffee    

• Drawing for fabulous prizes
• First 10 people to spend $100.00 or more will receive a FREE IBD tote filled with goodies
• IBD merch for sale
• In store specials

The Bookstore in Pine City    

We will have local children’s author Amy Shire Gleason here from 11:00 am to 3:00 pm. We will have the Libro/FM Golden Ticket, a book basket giveaway and lots of books at 20% of and puzzles at 30% off. 

Drury Lane Books   

We'll have Crosby Bakery cookies for everyone. If you buy a book, you can choose a free book from our box of advanced copies — all genres, sent to us by publishers.

12:30–2:00 pm — Author Kiki Garcia will sign copies of her picture book, Fishing By Torchlight. Kiki is a published author at just 9 years old, and she'll be excited to talk with other budding authors and share her story!

We also have surprise limited-edition Drury Lane Books swag!

drurylanebooks.com/event/2025-04-26/independent-book-store-day

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!

Lake Country Booksellers        

We’ll have 10% off most everything, free ARC's, and treats.

Milkweed Books

Participation in the Twin Cities Passport program through Rain Taxi, free galley giveaways, snacks and sips, specialty coffee, signed stock special. raintaxi.com/twin-cities-independent-bookstore-passport-2025/ 

Niche Books

While Supplies Last: Indie Bookstore Day Exclusive Giveaways & a free Niche Books sticker when you show us a receipt from any business in downtown Lakeville, Minnesota.

All Day: Used Book Sale
10:30 am–10:45 am: Story Time in the Children's Area
11:00 am–12:00 pm: Signing with Local Author Katie Macmillan, author of Running Home
12:00 pm–1:00 pm: Signing with Local Author Ellie Palmer, author of Four Weekends and a Funeral
1:00 pm–2:00 pm: Signing with Local Author Loretta Ellsworth, author of The French Winemaker's Daughter

Paperbacks Pieces    

It's our day for prizes, discounts, Author partnerships, and Shannonigans!! Meet Midwest authors: Kathryn Sullivan, Mary de Merle Schams, and Benét Stoen.

Grab lunch from Chef's Table food truck parked outside. Hunt for The Golden Ticket to win a year of audiobooks from Libro.

Sweet Reads  

• Two Authors who are both nature related so nature related snacks
• Giveaways
• Book give aways
• 50% off used books and 20% off new books

Mississippi

Reed's GumTree Bookstore       

We'll have sales all week leading up to Saturday.

Missouri

KD's Books        

Booklovers, you are invited to our 3rd annual Indie Bookstore Day party! Spin our prize wheel for freebies and deals, search for the Libro.fm Golden Ticket hidden in the store for a chance to win a year's worth of FREE audiobooks, meet with local authors Rachel Newhouse and Eisley Rose (and grab signed copies for your collection), enjoy live music from local musician Deanna Ray in the afternoon, and more! We've got exclusive merchandise only available at indies, plus our Take 10 Totes are back. Purchase any tote bag at regular price and you'll get 10% off any books you can fit in it! We'll also be participating in the KC Bookseller Association's Bookstore BINGO this year, so make sure to pick up a BINGO card and get your stamps/stickers. See you at the bookstore!    

Independent Bookstore Day is coming up on April 26th, and KCBA is once again rallying book lovers to explore and support local indie bookstores. After the incredible turnout for our Cozy Book Crawl in November, we know how much Kansas City readers love an excuse to visit their favorite shops — and discover new ones! If you liked the Crawl, you'll love celebrating with our Bookstore Bingo Challenge, a fun, free event designed to bring book lovers and indie bookstores together. As a KCBA member, you'll be among the first to know about awesome bookish events. You can join here: kcbooksellers.org/membership (not required to participate).

Let’s make this Independent Bookstore Day another huge success for Kansas City’s indie book scene!

Stonecrest Book & Toy        

• Storytime with the Author
• 2 Authors in-store book signing
• Kids' Reader Scavenger Hunt
• Games/prizes, giveaways, snacks!

Montana

Country Bookshelf    

Country Bookshelf is celebrating Independent Bookstore Day by launching a new event series: BookTalk.

Are you tired of doom scrolling on your phone? Do you see the same three books promoted on your social media over and over again? Are you interested in meeting other people in your community and strengthening relationships with your neighbors?

If you answered yes to any of the above questions, this event is for you! Our goal with BookTalk is to give our community members an opportunity to gather thoughtfully over their shared love of literature. Our hope is that attendees will leave with fresh perspectives, new friends, and a book recommendation from someone they hadn't met before.

Elk River Books    

Livingston’s Elk River Books is excited to celebrate the 12th annual Independent Bookstore Day on Saturday, April 26, with in-store specials, refreshments and book signings by poet Tami Haaland and children’s author Megan Hollingsworth. The celebration lasts all day from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm, with the book signings happening from 2:00 to 5:00 pm.

Tami Haaland’s new collection of poems, her fourth, is If I Had Said Beauty. It explores the possible narratives and distant origins of what lies behind a sense of self — including recent and ancient DNA, recessive and dominant traits, mitochondrial underpinnings, and an intricate microbiome. Luminous and spare, the poems seek to unravel and speculate, document and lament what happens in a life and what might have been.

Haaland is a former Montana poet laureate and a recipient of an Artist Innovation Award from Montana Arts Council as well as a Montana Governor’s Humanities Award.

Megan Hollingsworth is the author of Frog Song, an educational book for readers ages 9 and up that leads with an interspecies love poem inspired by “Toughie,” the last known living Rabbs’ fringe-limbed treefrog. With Toughie’s true story, resources for further learning, conservation homework suggestions and a section on big picture continuation, Frog Song supports imagination put to practical action for everyone’s benefit.

Hollingsworth is currently an East West Psychology doctoral student at California Institute of Integral Studies. She is deeply influenced by her Quaker upbringing, Engaged Buddhism, and faith in essential goodness.

Independent Bookstore Day (Indie Bookstore Day) was established in 2013 to promote, celebrate, and highlight the value of the independent bookstore community. The day has been observed on the last Saturday of April every year since 2013. This year there are over 1,200 stores participating across the country.

Elk River Books is located at 122 S. 2nd St. As Montana’s only members of the Antiquarian Booksellers Association of America, they provide a finely curated selection of new, used and antiquarian books, plus maps, cards, ephemera and book-related gifts. For more information, send an email to info@elkriverbooks.com or call (406) 333-2330.

Montana Book Company

Authors and Illustrators
Pre-orders meet and greet with romance author Sally Blakely, author of Friends to Lovers! Pre-order online or in person!
Illustrator Kelly Anne Dalton signing the NYT-bestselling children's picture book Addie Ant (available now!) and Beatrix Butterfly (April 8th, 2025)! 
Patricia Osborn, author of The Ambulance That Could Fly, is joined by illustrator of The Firetruck That Could Fly and The Spy That Could Fly, Eric Castleman.

Giveaways
Free Advanced Reading Copies (ARCs) with purchase
Tote bags packed with awesome stuff for the first six customers with purchases over $100
Find the Golden Ticket with our audiobook provider Libro.FM and win free audiobooks! Check it out!

Snacks
Habana 406 food truck on site with delicious Cuban delights!
Cotton candy fundraiser with Holter Museum's Afterschool Teen Arts Council (ATAC)
Sweet treats for customers while they last

New Hampshire

Gibson’s Bookstore

• Indie Bookstore Day 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 Mexico

Bookworks

We’ll have a passport program (more on it below) that we initiated for the first time with other bookstores in our community, a typewriter poet on hand for part of the day, and an author event with Anne Hillerman that evening. We'll also have a raffle and giveaways during the day.

This year, book lovers throughout our community are invited to join us for the ABQ Indie Bookstore Day Passport Challenge! Participants are invited to visit all eight participating Albuquerque independent bookstores over ten days to complete the challenge. Independent Bookstore Day is on Saturday, April 26, and the challenge must be completed by Monday, May 5. Participants can pick up an ABQ Indie Bookstore Day Passport at the first store they visit, and collect a stamp from each participating store to earn their prize. Book lovers who collect stamps from each participating store will receive an ABQ Indie Bookstore Day Coupon, good for a one-time 10% discount at each participating store and valid until April 24, 2026. Participating stores include Bookworks, Page 1 Books, Organic Books, Title Wave Books, Don’s Bookstore, Quirky Used Books & More, Treasure House Books, and Books on the Bosque.

bkwrks.com/event/2025-04-26/indie-bookstore-day-2025

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.

All My Friends Books  

We are celebrating our grand opening! We'll be welcoming customers in with treats and coffee, and are giving away gift cards, merch, and more.

Bedford Books    

10:00 am– Doors open!
11:00 am–12:00 pm — Mimosas & Bibliotherapy — get your personalized book prescription!
12:00 pm–1:00 pm — Storytime & Craft — featuring the newly released Dear Bookstore.
2:00 pm–4:00 pm — Calligraphy & Journals — adorable journals personalized with your name.
4:00 pm–5:30 pm — Snacks & Signing with Suzanne Lenzer — featuring her new cookbook PECKISH + wine & seltzer!

Plus: Prizes, treats, exclusive merch, and FREEBIES all day long!

The Book Nook, LLC  

• Cookies
• Raffle
• Raptor Encounter (Author and local falconer with be visiting to sign books with his owls!)

Books of Wonder    

We are celebrating Indie Bookstore Day with a rotation of fabulous authors and illustrators who will be partying in the store, hosting story times and craft activities, and sharing their favorite books as guest booksellers! Readers are welcome to hang out and doodle with artists at the arts and crafts table, and hunt for autographs for their books and free Books of Wonder Indie Bookstore Day 2025 print. Show your signed print at the register to claim cool swag! Our party goes from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm, and a list of authors and illustrators participating is available online at booksofwonder.com/blogs/upcoming. 

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.

Hudson Valley Books for Humanity      

• First 25 people in the store will receive a free pre-loved book of their choice, up to a $12 value (one per family). 
• Free tote bag of your choice for any purchase over $75.  
• Triple punches on frequent shopper cards all day long. 
• Treasure Hunt for kids with free pre-loved book coupon upon completion!

Tiny Raccoon Books  

Come join us on April 26 to celebrate Independent Bookstore Day and to celebrate our Second Birthday!

We will have music!

Mike & The Mistakes blends singer-songwriter elements with pop-punk attitude. The brainchild of Long Island's own “Punk Rock Troubadour”, Mike Thompson, that brings the full energy of seeing a band to his solo experience.

One day only promo: Show us a receipt from The Neverending Story in Babylon from April 26 and get a 10% discount!

Baked goods from Brunch Sayville will be on hand!

We will have Long Island authors in the store to chat with customers and sell & sign their books including:
Trevor Firetog (Usual Monsters)
Barb Morrison (Bottoming for God)
Aaron Pickus and Marissa Sala Pickus (The Little Matzah Ball Who Wanted to be a Meatball)
Valerie Nifora (The Fairmounts)

Well Worn Books   

This year, Well Worn Books will be celebrating with discounts, raffles and giveaways throughout the day, as well as participating in the first ever Orange County, NY Indie Bookstore Crawl!    

The first ever Orange County, NY Indie Bookstore Crawl will take place on Friday, April 25–Sunday, April 27. Visit all 8 independent bookstores in Orange County, and you could be eligible for additional discounts and prizes throughout the month of May. Full details at OCNYBookCrawl.com

North Carolina 

Cuentos y Café BIPOC Bookstore     

Cuentos y Café BIPOC Bookstore is partnering with Haywood Famous Cuban Coffee and Caravan Art Bazaar, a BIPOC artists collective, for an Indie Books and Art Market, featuring local booksellers and local artists and makers. 

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!

Red Rice Books

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/red-rice-books-opening-tickets-1244248162749?aff=oddtdtcreator 

The Roasted Bookery    

The Roasted Bookery will have two author signing events on the April 26. We will host Amber Grossman, debut author of Black Girls Gardening and Elijah Nash (with his mother, Nadira) author of I Am Awesome. We are also participating in Libro.fm’s Golden Ticket hunt.

TRB is organizing the inaugural Greater Cape Fear Book Crawl. Our website is www.greatercapefearbookcrawl.com and you can find us on socials (FB and Insta for now) @greatercapefearbookcrawl. This year we have 11 stores participating, but our goal is to grow the bookstore crawl to include bookstores all across southeastern North Carolina.

Ohio

Beanbag Books        

For Indie Bookstore Day, Beanbag Books will have:

• Grab Bags (while supplies last), and the first ten customers making a purchase will get a grab bag for free!
• Raffle Prizes: Every $25 you spend gets you a raffle ticket
• Book Cover Scavenger Hunt Bingo: Customers who get a bingo can turn in their completed card for a raffle ticket
• Blind Dates with a Book
• Free Totes for customers spending $100 or more (while supplies last)
• A “Make Your Own Bookmark” crafting station
• A Libro.fm Golden Ticket for 12 free audiobook credits
• A “Find a Book to Match Your Look” Selfie Station AND if you buy the book you found, you get it for 10% off
• A Gift Card Giveaway: Customers who post a picture of their purchase on social media, tag us in the post, and follow us will be entered to win a gift card
• Local artisan Blackbird Book & Page
• An All-Day Board Game Party: Try out some of our most popular games
• Our New Book Recs Gumball Machine AND if you buy the book you’re recommended, you get it for 10% off
• A Thriller After Party from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm: Get an additional raffle ticket for every mystery or thriller you buy, enjoy a special thriller-themed cocktail, take part in a show-and-tell to share the day’s purchases from all the indie bookstores you visited, make a thriller-themed craft with Blackbird Book & Page, and more! Plus author Mindy McGinnis will be on hand to sign books, chat, and answer your questions!

We're also participating in the Columbus Indie Bookstore Crawl!

Be Mine Books

Join us Saturday, April 26, with The Be Mine Books to celebrate Independent Bookstore Day! 

The Be Mine Book Bike will be popped up at Center Street Market in Germantown from 9am–2pm! 

• We’re bringing the bookish fun with freebies (while supplies last) and giveaways. 

Find the Golden Ticket!

• We’re hiding two Libro.fm Golden Tickets - one in our shop and one on our book bike! The lucky finders will each win 12 audiobook credits from Libro.fm. 

Enter to Win a VIP Book Haul!

• Snap a picture at The Be Mine Bookstore (651 Lyons Rd #11003, Dayton, OH) or at The Be Mine Books Bike at Center Street Market in Germantown, OH and tag #BeMineBooks and #IndieBookstoreDay for a chance to win a $50 Be Mine Books shopping spree! Winners will be announced on Wednesday, May 1. 
• The Fine Print: Limit one per customer while supplies last. The shopping spree will be in the form of a digital gift card to be used online only.

The Bookshelf    

Try your luck by drawing a token to see how much of a discount you will receive on anything you buy that day!

Also, take a picture in or in front of the store, post it on Instagram, tag @cincybookshelf, and you will be entered in a random drawing for a $50 gift certificate! It can be a picture of you, of the store, and/or of what you bought.

Clevo Books   

We are part of the NEO book crawl, but also a poetry crawl on the same day at 3:00 pm.  NEO Book Crawl info: fb.me/e/346yZo5zm 

Gramercy Books

We will have a 20% OFF storewide sale as well as participating in the Columbus Indie Bookstore Crawl!

KICKS Mix Bookstore      

$5.00 FILL-UP A BASKET SALE ON USED BOOKS!

POP! Art Books Culture  

Store-wide Sale! Everything is 20% off! Book Hunt! 

Oklahoma

The Book Exchange and The Bible Bookstore 

Book signing with author Charles W. Sasser.

Oregon

BOLD Coffee & Books    

• Friday Night Silent Reading Party
• Children's Storytime with Brian and Josie Parker and Meet the Pawsons!
• Book Bingo, Free Book Bags, Free Bookmarks
• Buy a Book—Get a Latte
• Happy hour Reading and Signing with Michelle Kicherer and Emme Lund

Green Bean Books       

Saturday, April 26, 2:00 pm
Join Our Independent Bookstore Day Celebration!

Science Comics: Deep-Sea Creatures-Adapting to the Abyss Release Party with Mike Lawrence
Graphic Novelist Mike Lawrence will be here to celebrate the release of his new graphic novel addition to the Science Comics series for Independent Bookstore Day!!! He will also lead a deep sea creature interactive drawing activity along with a make-a-fish paper craft for kids! ​Signed copies of his books will be available for purchase at this event! No preregistration needed to join! Free Event!

Honeyed Words  

We’ll be hosting Cozy Queer Reading Hours: Spring Edition from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm! Come through any time for cozy reading nooks, to hang out with other queer folks, and to grab 20% off some of our favorite spring reads!

Starting at 3:00 pm, we’ll have a free queer collage meet-up hosted by local artist Hope Amico — bring your favorite materials to work on (But don’t worry, we’ll have some supplies provided!)

Hidden in our shelves will also be a Golden Ticket from Libro.fm — come find it on April 26 only to win a year’s supply of audiobooks!

Literary Arts    

As a first-year bookstore we’re thrilled to be participating in the 12th Anniversary of Independent Bookstore Day!

🎈 Doors open at 10:00 am and we’ll kick off the day with Spanish Story Time from the wonderful storytellers at Adventures in Spanish (10:30am). 
📖 From 11:00 am to 2:00 pm our neighborhood friends, the Independent Publishing Resource Center (IPRC), will be at the store with a letterpress and an exclusive bookmark print.
📝 From 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm, preview a Literary Arts programs for writers with a pop-up writing class from local author and Literary Arts Teacher, Michelle Kicherer

Plus:

☕️ Free drinks and snacks all day long! 
🎨 A free Literary Arts tote featuring art of our beautiful new storefront for anyone spending $50 or more. 
🎧 A hidden golden ticket from Libro.fm which will award one lucky browser 12 free audiobook credits. 
🎡 Earn a prize wheel spin with every purchase for opportunities to win goodies including ARCS, merch, gift cards, event tickets, and more!

📚→ If we’re one among many bookstore stops for you on this day, save your receipts — we’re offering 10% off for shoppers who bring a day-of receipt from another indie.

Can't wait to see you at IBD!

Parallel Worlds Bookshop    

We’re hosting a 25% off sale!

Postcard Bookshop   

Are we taking a road trip? No, we're having a BOOK DRIVE. On April 26, we’ll kick off an in-store book drive to collect picture books for the Children’s Book Bank at Smart Reading. Bring us your gently-used, inclusive picture books or buy a few new books from our curated selection in-store or online. And even better? Your donations earn discounts to use on your next visit to Postcard Bookshop. To celebrate the day, we'll also have "road trip" snacks, a “scenic” photo op, and "destination unknown" mystery books (think Blind Date With a Book).

Powell's Books (City of Books, Cedar Hills Crossing, Hawthorne, PDX)

Powell's exclusive merch for sale and freebies, raffles, prize spinners, customer activities, and a threshold deal with exclusive totes and enamel pins. We're also participating in the Libro.fm Golden Ticket.

Pennsylvania

Book Bar    

This event will feature a TON of FUN to celebrate our first-ever, in-person Indie Bookstore Day (and our “half-birthday” as we celebrate six months of being open).

You can:

• Enter drawings to win one of our special, curated Indie Bookstore Day Local Author Baskets
• Search our store for a chance to find the Libro.fm Golden Ticket (one ticket will be hidden in the store the day of the event; the person who finds it will win FREE audiobook credits from Libro.fm)
• Try a free sample of our exclusive and custom Book Bar Blend Coffee (roasted locally by Cleona Coffee Roasters and ground fresh in house)
• Get a free bookish sticker with every purchase (while supplies last)
• Check out our exclusive Indie Bookstore Day merch and brand-new Book Bar merch for sale to commemorate the occasion (while supplies last)
• Visit Rosie, the local Palmyra Greenhouse Flower Truck, which will be on site selling flowers from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm
• And more!

Learn more on the Facebook event page here: https://www.facebook.com/events/654120517589460/"

Bound Books

Activity: Make your own custom collage bookmark using recycled material.

Cupid’s Bookshop    

We will have ARC giveaways, cotton candy, and exclusive IBD totes. 

The Doylestown Bookshop

11:00 am–1:00 pm: Children’s face painting with Alex!

12:00 pm–3:00 pm: The Hops/Scotch mobile bar will be at The Doylestown Bookshop offering a selection of drinks and a special themed VHS drink in honor of visiting author Todd Keisling based on his book Scanlines. Drinks are available for purchase; cash and credit are accepted.

1:00 pm–3:00 pm: Join us for a special Independent Bookstore Day event with two-time Bram Stoker Award®-nominated author Todd Keisling as he discusses and signs The Sundowner's Dance.

Play TBR Bingo in the bookstore 
Raffles every hour on the hour beginning at 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM

Post a picture of yourself in front of The Doylestown or Lahaska Bookshop, tagging the bookstore and #IndieBookstoreDay to be entered into a drawing to win a private shopping hour at the store of your choice with four friends! The winners will be notified on Monday, April 28th, 2025.

Order at least $25 worth of books from doylestownbookshop.com on Saturday, April 26th, 2025, to be automatically entered into a drawing or receive a secret gift in your package. 

Share your favorite book with us on our larger-than-life book banner (located on our cafe window at the Main Street entrance).

The Gilded Prose

We are holding a popup at Jiva Java Cafe, Bartonsville, PA where there will be giveaways, goodie bags, the libro.fm golden ticket, new branded merch, and blind date with a book!

The Lahaska Bookshop

From 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM 

• Play TBR Bingo in the bookstore 
  • Post a picture of yourself in front of The Doylestown or Lahaska Bookshop, tagging the bookstore and #IndieBookstoreDay to be entered into a drawing to win a private shopping hour at the store of your choice with four friends! The winners will be notified on Monday, April 28, 2025. 

Order at least $25 worth of books from www.doylestownbookshop.com on Saturday, April 26, 2025, to be automatically entered into a drawing or receive a secret gift in your package. 

Share your favorite book with us on our larger-than-life book banner. 

From 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM

• Join us for a special Independent Bookstore Day event with Local Author Donna Galanti as she signs books from her Unicorn Island children's series.

The Little Book Place

We will have a food truck on site for the day. We're having a prize wheel that can be spun with every purchase. We will also have a Bookmark Painting stations so customers can make their own bookmark. The owner's 10-year old son will hold a story time for the kids.

Main Point Books   

Join us for another great Indie Bookstore Day celebration! We'll have IBD exclusive swag, fun giveaways, a Libro.fm Golden Ticket, and favorite authors in the store signing new books.

April isn't complete without celebrating Indie Bookstore Day!

Schedule

10:30 am–11:30 am, Upstairs

Aaron Bracy
A Soaring Season: The Incredible, Inspiring Story of the 2003-04 Saint Joseph's Hawks

11:30 am–12:30 pm in our kids' section

Jamar Nicholas
Leon the Extraordinary

Donna Gephart 
Woofmore

12:00 pm–1:00 pm, Upstairs

Tara Nurin
A Woman’s Place is in the Brewhouse

Laura Piper Lee 
Zoe Brennan, First Crush
Hannah Tate, Beyond Repair

1:00 pm–2:00 pm, Upstairs

Jon McGoran
The Price of Everything

Ken Kalfus
A Hole in the Story

2:00 pm, Downstairs
Come be the first play PORTMANTEAU, a silly and challenging new board game!

Mavey Books

• ALL DAY: Free book galleys included with every $75+ purchase, while supplies last!
• GOLDEN TICKET SEARCH 🎫: Find a Golden Ticket in-store for a chance to win one year's worth of audiobooks, courtesy of Libro.fm. There is only one ticket, so search early!
• Raffle with us! Enter our free raffles for a chance to win bookish swag (and a giftcard at your favorite purple bookstore!)
• Grab some FREE SWAG — all day while supplies laaast!

Newtown Bookshop    

Exclusive Items, Give-aways, Raffles, Store Wide Promotions, Special Guest Author Mike Madaio A History of Philadelphia Sandwiches with Sandwiches to Sample!  Join our Party! 

Pages & Parchment

We spearheaded a "Regional Bookstore Tour" that features 10 indie bookstores that will all have their own specials, giveaways, and parties for people to check out and celebrate!

Werner Books & Coffee  

 We will have:

• An outside sidewalk sale featuring 50¢ paperbacks and $1 hardcovers on Saturday and Sunday
• Monacella Massage will be on hand to give chair massages to any stressed out customers
• Our friend Jen from Aquillbella Boutique will be here making custom shirts — you choose the shirt and the design, and she'll make it for you right then and there
• Anthony Carson of Ant's Art House will be doing doodles
• On your own, free, kids craft activity
• Our cafe will feature four specialty drinks for the occasion
• The Wheel of Deals will be back at the front desk checkout counter with prizes and discounts

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.

Rhode Island

Symposium Books  

• Spend over $100 and get a free Symposium Books tote bag while supplies last
• Independent Bookstore Day exclusive tote bag
• $50 gift card scavenger hunt to SB
• Author signings from noon to 1:00 pm
• Author reading and discussion from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm
   

South Carolina

Philosophers & Fools   

We will be celebrating all day long, from 11:00 am – 10:00 pm.

• - Free popcorn all day
• A sale shelf that increases in discount as the day goes on
• Enter to win a raffle prize
• One lucky person will find the hidden Libro.fm Golden Ticket and win 12 audiobook credits
• 1:30–3:00 pm: Free sampling with High Rise Seltzers
• 3:30–5:00 pm:  Free sampling with Sunboy Spiked Coconut Water
• 7:00–9:00 pm: $1 oysters & $5 bubbly by the glass special

Get rewarded when you shop with us!

• Spend $50 = Receive a P&F Sticker
• Spend $100= Receive a P&F Sticker + $5 gift card
• Spend $150 = Receive a P&F Sticker, a $5 gift card and pick an ARC to take home

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!

Good Girl Books    

As a mobile bookstore, Good Girl Books will be celebrating Indie Bookstore Day by participating in the East TN Makers Market. We will have a limited edition ”I support my local indie book truck“ bookmarks that are free with purchase while supplies last. We also have matching stickers and other special merchandise, including Blind Date Books. 

Texas

Bibliobar

Join us on Independent Bookstore Day, Saturday, April 26, 2025, as we officially open Bibliobar — Plano’s newest indie bookstore! We’re throwing an epic celebration with:

✨ Ribbon Cutting & Cake at 11:00 am
📖 Author Signings Every Hour (12:00 – 6:00 pm!)
🔮 Tarot Readings, Crystals & Spell Jars
🍻 Craft Beer from Four Bullets Brewery
🎟️ Fun, Community, & Bookish Vibes — Free & Open to All!

📖 Author Signing Schedule:
🕛 12:00 pm – Leslie McElroy & Ashley Schumacher
🕐 1:00 pm – ML Miller & Rachel Lewis
🕑 2:00 pm – Judy Liu & Kit Aldridge
🕒 3:00 pm – Sarah Damoff & Madison Lawson
🕓 4:00 pm – Amy Woodruff & Kimberly Packard
🕔 5:00 pm – Jessica Olson & Amber Palmer
🕕 6:00 pm – Thea Claire & Jonny Garza Villa

📍 Where: Bibliobar – 1018 E 15th St, Plano, TX
📅 When: Saturday, April 26, 2025

Birdhouse Books and Gifts    

• 11:00 am: Drag Story Time with Miss Petty Cakes!
• Exclusive signed copies of Lightlark and Diary of A Wimpy Kid
• Exclusive Indie Bookstore Day merchandise!

Chapterhouse Bookstore     

ALL WEEK LONG:
Make Your Own Bookmark crafting station!

Passport and bookstore crawl with local indie bookstores! We are hosting the first ever local Route 66 Bookstore Crawl! Participating bookstores are Aunt EEK's Books & Curiosities, Caliche, Chapterhouse Bookstore (us!), and To Boldly Go...And Home Again. All week long, pick up your passport at any participating bookstore and get stamps for visiting them all! Participation prizes available at each bookstore once stamped, and completed passports can be turned in to Chapterhouse Bookstore for a Grand Prize Raffle on Independent Bookstore Day!

THURSDAY ( Apr. 24)
6:00 pm–8:00 pm: FUTBOLISTA release tour with Stonewall Book Award winning author Jonny Garza Villa! We will have exclusive sticker sheets for event attendees and book purchases, an audience Q&A, and book signing.

FRIDAY ( Apr. 25)
6:00 pm–9:00 pm: Game Night! Bring a friend and join us for card, board, and tabletop games. From 10 minute party games to 2 hour strategy games, we've got something for everyone! Games and snacks provided, but feel free to bring your favorites to share!

SATURDAY (Apr. 26)
All Day: Find the Libro.fm Golden Ticket! Our Golden Ticket will be hidden somewhere in the store and the person who finds it gets 12 free audiobooks!

11:00 am: Kids Storytime! Join us for a quick English storytime and themed crafts! Kids snacks available for purchase.

2:00 pm: Bilingual Kids Storytime! Join us for another storytime and craft in English and Spanish! Kids snacks available for purchase.

6:00 pm–8:00 pm: Open Mic night for National Poetry Month.

One More Chapter | Mobile Bookstore   

💕FREE Limited Edition One More Chapter Sticker with *any purchase (*while supplies last)!

💕 FIRST 20 Customers to spend $75+ get a FREE One More Chapter Tote Bag!

💕 One Raffle Ticket for every $25 spent to enter to win a One More Chapter Book Lover’s Box!

Book Lover’s Box Includes $25 Gift Card to One More Chapter, Book Lovers Pen Set, Bookplate Labels, and Winners’ Choice of (1) Sticker & (1) Bookmark

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. 

Whose Books

3rd Annual Oak Cliff Book Crawl https://www.eventbrite.com/e/3rd-annual-oak-cliff-book-crawl-tickets-1294938589179 

Virginia

The Violet Bookshop

The Violet Fox Bookshop is popping up at the annual Back Alley Book Sale along with fellow pop-up bookstores, Lit Garage and Literature & Libations. We will be popping up at Union Overall in Norfolk, VA on May 3, 2025 from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. The Back Alley Book Sale is part of the annual Hampton Roads Indie Bookstore Crawl. The Hampton Roads Indie Bookstore Crawl is an annual week-long event celebrating Independent Bookstore Day. Everyone is welcome to visit participating bookstores to get their Bookstore Crawl Passports stamped and be entered to win a basket full of bookish goodies!

The Open Book    

Come visit us and say hi to our shop kitty, Fable! We're celebrating with a prize wheel; spin for a variety of discounts or giveaways! Participants in the NoVA Bookstore Crawl Passport Program can pick up their passports here.     

NoVA+ Bookstore Crawl Passport Program

Scrawl Books  

On Indie Bookstore Day 2025, Scrawl Books is hosting 3 author events with accompanying crafts (making paper snowflakes with Meera Trehan's book Snow; making fairy doors with Sarah Glenn Marsh; and a polaroid-shaped photo booth for K. E. Monteith's latest release Snapshot Problems) in addition to bookseller-led programming like a DIY zine workshop, book-themed origami, and button-making. We're also taking part in the Libro.fm Golden Ticket program, doing Banned Book Bingo, and kicking off the NoVA+ Bookstore Crawl Passport Program!

Starting on April 16, customers can stop by any of the 15 indie bookstores who have partnered for this program. 4 visits/stamps earn an ARC, 8 visits/stamps earn a tote bag, and 10 stores earns an entry for the GRAND PRIZE RAFFLE!

NoVA+ Bookstore Crawl Passport Program

West Side Stories

We're celebrating all-indie all-day with 10% discount on all books all day, poetry readings, story times, giveaways, libro.fm Golden Ticket scavenger hunt, limited edition Indie Bookstore Day merch, henna tattoos, and lots of #yumminess from our bakeshop & coffeehouse! 

Winchester Book Gallery

Indie Bookstore Day Spirit Week: Monday. April 21–Friday April 25 

It's Independent Bookstore Day Spirit Week! Join us in celebrating and come shop at Winchester Book Gallery with your spirit wear on! We’re open every day at 10am and close at 7 or 8. Stop in to pick up a WBG IBD SPIRIT WEEK PUNCH CARD – collect a stamp for each day to earn an extra 15% on Independent Bookstore Day! 

Saturday April 26th 9:00 am – 9:00 pm INDEPENDENT BOOKSTORE DAY! 

The Winchester Book Gallery is delighted to be celebrating the 12th Independent Bookstore Day! We will be open 9:00 am to 9:00 pm with fun for everyone! The Winchester Book Gallery will have over 30 exclusive items for sale and as giveaways from specialized tote bags to Late Night Book Club Hats, Frog and Toad Coloring Book and more. There will be snacks and book fun all day long! We are delighted to host two amazing Local Authors on Independent Bookstore Day! Please stop in: play and shop with us! 

11:00 am–1:00 pm Author Event: June Smalls — They Work: Honey Bees, Nature's Pollinators. Come say hi to our local author June Smalls and experience the life cycle of the honey bee up close and personal with this striking picture book. Told in a poetic style along with fun facts on each page for older readers wanting a deeper dive, They Work is a beautiful exploration of life inside a beehive, as well as the dangers and predators bees face out in the world — including humans. June will also have a fun bee activity. 

2:00–4:00 pm Author Event: TJ O'Connor —The Whisper Legacy “TJ O’Connor is that rare thriller writer with both talent and street time in the worlds he rockets us readers through.” —James Grady, New York Times Bestselling Author on The Consultant. In TJ O'Connor's newest release, The Whisper Legacy, Marlowe “Lowe” Curran was once a freelance intelligence operative swashbuckling around the world — until Greece — until the Voula Beach Road. There, he lost everything and nearly his life. Now, he’s a luckless, aging PI living on guilt and nightmares — barely paying his rent if not for Tommy Astor, a well-connected Washington powerbroker. Soon, Curran becomes a suspect in the murder of a philandering husband. Stop by and pick up an autographed copy to find out more!

Washington

Artisans Books & Coffee   

Artisans Books & Coffee is hosting a Book Lovers night with Banned Book Trivia at 7:00 pm and a community art project. Tickets are available for drink flight (NA available) of Mead from Whidbey Island Hierophant Meadery. personal charcuterie and a blind date with a banned book.
facebook.com/events/1780840709153173

Musician Sam Webber is touring the NW doing Book Store Concerts — he will be with us on April 24.
facebook.com/events/1780840709153173    

Snohomish County Bookstores April 19–26

Crawl of 6 stores with two "side quests" of two new bookstores that opened too late to be on our map.  

Marysville WA - 3rd Street Books, Wit's End
Stanwood WA - Wit's End
Everett WA - Artisans Books & Coffee
Snohomish WA - Upper Case
Monroe WA - We be Book'n . Main St Books

Side Quests: 
Lake Stevens WA - Lakeside Books
Mill Creek WA - Hardcovers

facebook.com/snocoindiebookstoreweek

Invitation Bookshop

In-store giveaways, free ARCs with purchase, and discounts for patrons who have shopped with another business in our town that day. 

We also coordinate The South Sound Book Crawl. southsoundbookcrawl.com

King's Books

We are planning an Artist Craft Fair with over 20 local vendors of pottery, letterpress, jewelry , art, and more. We are also participating in the South Sound Book Crawl. southsoundbookcrawl.com

Main St. Books Monroe    

Historical fiction author Noelle Salazar will be signing 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. A couple of indie authors will come in the afternoon.

Snohomish County Indie Bookstore Week is held April 19-26, 2025 /3rdstbookexchange.com/snoco-indie-bookstore

Nook & Cranny Books

Indie Bookstore Day will double as our Grand Opening in our new store front! There will be snacks, door prizes, a book exchange, and, somewhere in the store…a Libro.fm Golden Ticket. 👀

We participate in (and help with the communal organizing of) the Seattle Indie Bookstore Day Bookstore Crawl! Nearly 30 participating indie bookstores in the greater Seattle area will appear on the passport. The Challenge runs for 10 days starting April 26. More info on rules, prizes, and participating stores at seattlebookstoreday.com

The Romance Era Bookshop    

We will have pop-ups from the following small businesses: Bloom Boudoir Photography, The Novel Nomad, Sourdough Hoe and Tattoos by Fenix Lockhart.

Secret Garden Bookstore    

On Independent Bookstore Day we'll have local authors moonlighting as booksellers, exclusive giveaways, free blind date books with $50 minimum purchase (while supplies last,) snacks and Indie Bookstore Day merchandise for sale.   We’re also part of the Seattle Indie Bookstore Day Passport Program.

Saltwater Bookshop    

• Free Tote Bag with purchase of $75 or more
• Author visits on April 26 — Lynn Brunelle at the store 9:00 am – 11:00 am, Rachel Linden 11:00 am – 12:00 pm Local author Julie Farley at the store in the afternoon!
• We‘re also part of the Seattle Bookstore Day Passport Challenge!

Storytime Bookshop  

We are debuting our expanded book area!

Washington, DC

The Potter's House

Indie Bookstore Day falls on our 65th birthday this year! 

We're organizing the DC bookstore crawl for the fourth year. There are prizes for participants who visit six or more stores and for those who post about their experience.

Throughout the day, we'll be sharing stories, photos, and articles from our long history of hospitality and activism in DC. We're also offering a free coffee with bookstore purchase and gifts with purchases over $50. We'll close out the day with a big birthday bash for our staff and community.

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). 

Wisconsin

Blue House Books

Shop with us on Independent Bookstore Day for an amazing celebration! Check out all the amazing things we have planned: 

• The first 15 people to spend $50+ will receive a FREE tote bag.
• We will be promoting brand new, never-before-seen-at-BHB books and gift items.
• Anyone who shops in store or online will be entered into a raffle for prizes and gift certificates from local businesses.
• Our passport program will be ongoing (more details on our events page).
• Tons of items will be marked down for one day only!

Chapter2 Books

We are participating in two bookstore crawls: Twin Cities Independent Bookstore Passport and Western Wisconsin Bookstore Crawl. We will have Indie Bookstore Day merch for sale and will be offering discounts to book crawl customers.

Other Worlds Books & More

We will be having two authors in the hall. Liam Larkin will be here with his newest release as well as other books. Judy DuCharme will be featuring her Green Bay Packers books since the is the last day of the NFL draft. There will be a gift with purchase, color and activity pages for the kids, and a few other surprises for those who stop in all weekend long.

Pages and Parcels    

Celebrate Independent Bookstore Day at Pages and Parcels!
Join us Saturday, April 26 for a day full of books, community, and celebration. We’re marking our official grand opening with ribbon cutting, giveaways, special bookish merch, and live energy from the UW Marching Band and DJ EK Entertainment at the finish line of the Next Chapter 5K.

Enjoy exclusive IBD titles, shop local favorites, and connect with readers, writers, and neighbors alike. This isn’t just a bookstore—it’s a place where stories (and people) come to life.