Book Fair in the Park

Book Fair in the Park takes over Military Park on Friday, October 23, from 10 AM to 5 PM. It's a day for browsing local bookstores in the open air, and the lineup of shops is a good cross-section of what we've got in the city. Good Riches Books, The Book Fairy, and Perasma Book Co. will be there, along with The Indianapolis Public Library, the Kurt Vonnegut Museum and Library, and Indiana Humanities Books Plus Indy. The Stacks Mobile Bookshop and Indy Little Cup round out the list, so you can work your way through a fair amount of local inventory in one spot.

Beyond the books you buy, there's a free Book Swap where you can bring a gently used book and trade it for a new-to-you read. It's a good way to cycle through your shelves and walk away with something different without spending a dime. Yard games will be set out across the park, too, so you can hang out between browsing. The organizers describe it as a cozy, book-filled day at the park, and that's pretty much the whole point: shop a variety of titles from local bookstores and relax in the shade.

Toward the end of the day, the music kicks in. Chad Hollister plays from 3 PM to 5 PM, and there's a Matcha Cart on hand if you need a caffeine hit to keep you going. Registration is encouraged, though you don't have to do it to attend. It's free to get in, though individual vendors may have their own costs for what they're selling. The whole thing runs from 10 AM to 5 PM at Military Park, part of White River State Park at 601 West New York Street.