Readers, storytellers and those looking to expand their hobbies are in luck—the Philadelphia Bookstore Crawl is back this weekend for its Sophomore year.
The now annual event launched in 2023, and people came from all over the country to explore the city’s literary scene. Two dozen Philly spots participated last year, and in 2024, the list has grown to now include over thirty bookstores.
The all-day event will take place this Saturday, Aug. 24, with stops anchored from Old City to Germantown, Fishtown through West Philadelphia, Elkins Park to Ardmore, and as far as Wayne, PA and Haddonfield, NJ.
Each venue participating in the Philadelphia Bookstore Crawl will host their own special events, sales and giveaways with some authors posting up to chat about their work and the business (and you can expect to see everyone from critically acclaimed comic book authors to USA Today bestselling romance writers.)
Participating stores span A Novel Idea, Brave New World, Headhouse Books, Iffy Books, Umoja House, Healing While Black, Wooden Shoe Books, Children’s World Books, American Grammar, The Last Word and more.
Chestnut Hill will also be offering a few different ways to celebrate the occasion. Firstly, all three of the area’s bookstores (Booked, Multiverse and Hilltop Books) will be on the docket for this year, but other local businesses will also add to the fun.
Hilltop will offer discounted reads ($2 to $4 books) and special giveaways, but when you also spend $20 at Hilltop, you also get 20% off your order at Matine’s Cafe. Multiverse on the other hand will offer 20% to 30% off science fiction, fantasy and horror novels, plus, shoppers who purchase $25 or more of books between 9 to 11 a.m. will be entered into a drawing for a pair of free tickets to see a screening of ‘The Labyrinth’ with a live orchestral score at the Keswick Theater.
Booked will be offering all-day sales and specials throughout the event, and a special Booked cocktail/mocktail for visitors in the afternoon. As a release notes, all three bookstores will open their doors at 9 a.m., offering participants an early start to the crawl along with exclusive specials at each location. During this time, local cafes Baker Street Bread Co. Cafe & Bakery and Matine’s Cafe will offer a Booklovers Breakfast Special exclusively for those visiting the neighborhood for the crawl as well.
As noted before, authors will also be in attendance. A full schedule is available online, but some standouts to look out for include Sarahlyn Bruck (‘Light of the Fire’), Nick Gregorio (‘Launch Me to the Stars, I’m Finished Here’), Victoria Mier (‘Beyond the Aching Door’), USA Today bestselling author Xio Axelrod (‘Girls with Bad Reputations’), Jennifer Herrera (‘The Hunter’), Dr. Melissa Ford (‘Their Example Will Inspire Us’), Jadzia Axelrod (DC’s ‘Hawkgirl’, ‘Galaxy the Prettiest Star’) and many more.
There are also a few highlighted events to keep an eye out for this year with the Philadelphia Bookstore Crawl. Literary agents and editors will be on site at American Grammar in Fishtown at 10 a.m. for an “industry brain pick,” plus, an afterparty celebration at Main Point Books in Wayne will feature acclaimed authors telling stories from 7 to 9 p.m., (including Anne Liontas, Katherine Vaz, Elise Juska, and Emma Copley Eisenberg.)
While frolicking on Saturday, participants can also check out a sneak peek at the new cookbook store in the Italian Market, Binding Agents, plus Molly’s Books and Records will be selling The Monster-Building Handbook and offering a tour of the new space before it even opens.
Lastly, as a release notes, bookstores will have their own bundle of giveaways regularly unveiled via the event’s Instagram and website. Locals can check those accounts to see what’s in store.
For more information on the events, including an ongoing list of giveaways and signings, visit the official Philadelphia Bookstore Crawl website phillybookstorecrawl.com
