Newberry Book Fair Returns July 29-31

One of Chicago’s largest and favorite used book sale is coming back live and in person after a short covid-hiatus. The Newberry Book Fair hosted by The Newberry Library (60 W. Walton Street Chicag0) will return from July 28 through July 31 at Washington Square Park (900 N. Clark Street) and you don’t want to miss it. What’s in it for you? If you are a book love like me, you’ll find: Dozens of genres, including philosophy, history, art, cooking, children’s literature, Hundreds of bargain hunters who still love to flip through pages of a good book, thousands of books and endless possibilities abound. Many of the books are priced at $3 or under; All book purchases support the Newberry library’s mission to foster a deeper understanding of our world through research and learning. Admission is free

Members of the Newberry Associates at the Authors level and above ($100 or more/year) can get first dibs at the Book Fair Preview Day Thursday, July 28. The public day begins Friday, July 29 at 10:00 am and lasts through 6pm throughout the weekend. On Saturday between 1:00 – 4:30 pm, there will be storytelling activities with acclaimed authors. Visitors can also observe performance artist Tim Youd as he retypes Nelson Algren’s The Man with the Golden Arm as part of his 100 Novels Project. The Newberry’s inaugural $25,000 Pattis Family Foundation Chicago Book Award will be presented to Dawn Turner, author of Three Girls from Bronzeville at a ceremony at 4pm on Saturday July 30.

FESTIVAL HOURS:
Chicago Storytelling Activities and Documents Bureau:
Sat. July 30, 2022, 1:00 – 4:30 pm in Washington Square Park with acclaimed authors

1. Spoken word and storytelling performance by E’mon Lauren, Chicago’s first Youth Poet Laureate. Poet Mark Turcotte will emcee the event. On the main stage, professional Chicago storytellers will share their stories focused on the joys and challenges of living in Chicago. Our lineup includes Lily Be, Fiona Maxwell, Vince Romero, Katie Prout, Bill Savage, and Emily Hooper Lansana.

1. Additionally, visitors are invited to participate in one of the Newberry’s Story Circles, where you’ll have a chance to share your own stories about life in Chicago. Sessions will begin at 2pm, 2:30pm, and 3pm.

At the same time, the Society of Smallness will take the boredom out of bureaucracy with their Documents Bureau project. Documents Bureau offers a unique way to solve your everyday problems (like potholes, dibs, taxes, and more!) as a citizen of Chicago. Step right up to one of the Society’s clerks, and they’ll listen to your concerns and type up a document under your close supervision. As a final step, the document will be garnished with very persuasive and official looking stamps.

3:30 pm: Performance by musician Sheryl Youngblood on the main stage

Sat, July 30, 4:00 pm Newberry’s inaugural $25,000 Pattis Family Foundation Chicago Book Award presentation to Dawn Turner, author of Three Girls from Bronzeville. The Pattis Family Foundation Chicago Book Award at the Newberry Library will be presented annually to a book that transforms public understanding of Chicago, its history, or its people. After the program, visitors will be able to purchase Three Girls from Bronzeville and the Pattis shortlist books, and the authors will be available to sign them.

Join the in-crowd by liking us on Facebook, or follow us on Twitter or Instagram. We appreciate every support and love to be a select few in your inbox, Subscribe to our Free Newsletter to Stay Up-To-Date on events and great luxury lifestyle content.