A book extravaganza reminiscent of the Scholastic Book Fair is in reach for adults. Inbound BrewCo is hosting a Book Fair for Grown-Ups at the State Fairgrounds this Saturday, July 12, with a whirlwind of local authors, independent bookstores, publishers, artisans, and beer.
The line for the first Book Fair for Grown-Ups in January was out the door and stretched down the street for blocks. That fair was held at Inbound with just 16 vendors. Rachel Silberman, the marketing and events coordinator for Inbound, decided they needed more vendors and more space.
“There was a line down the block so far that the people were so tiny, like ants,” Silberman said. “That’s how far it was. And we were like, ‘We have to do this in a bigger space.’”
The upcoming fair will be held at the spacious Education Building on the State Fairgrounds, with 140 authors and publishers promoting their work, bookstores offering up a variety of genres, crafters selling bookish trinkets, and food trucks. The fair is expected to see 2,000 to 5,000 book lovers.
Inbound plans to host the book fair twice a year due to its popularity. The nostalgia draws crowds in, and there will even be kitschy pencils and patches much like the ones at the Scholastic Book Fair.
But this is not just an event for readers. It is also one for emerging writers looking to make local connections. There will be a silent auction at the book fair, and a few of the publishers donated helpful tools for writers such as pitch sessions, critiques, and a book launch worth over $500.
The Book Fair for Grown-Ups is 12-7 p.m on July 12. Tickets are $10, and children under 12 get in free.