This Saturday marks the 11th annual Independent Bookstore Day and the 25 indie bookstores on the Austin Book Trail are busily preparing for the big day. No matter where you are in and around Austin, there’s a book retailer in your neighborhood ready to sell you the next book your kid asks you to read 80 times on repeat (good night comb, good night brush, good night nobody, good night mush).
This one-day indie bookstore crawl and celebration includes a kickoff breakfast party with free coffee (and free tacos for the early birds) at Mañana Dos and an afterparty at Better Half! This Saturday, grab your map and hit the trail!
Central Austin
Book People
603 N Lamar
Kids author Kari Lavelle (of Butt or Face fame – a very popular title in my house) will appear for the Book Kids Amphitheater Saturday at 2 PM. The Coffee People café will offer book trailgoers free drip coffee or iced tea.
Vintage Bookstore & Wine Bar
1101 E 11th St
Vintage will be open to the public starting at 11:30 AM following their Brunch with Beto event. Booklovers can enjoy buy one, get one 20% off on all book purchases and search for the Libro.fm golden ticket. Also, they have wine and two patios.
Alienated Majesty Books
613 2 29th St
The new resident of the old Malvern Books location – Alienated Majesty Books – is offering 20% off staff picks, new releases, and poetry.
First Light Books
4300 Speedway Unit 104
Independent Bookstore Day visitors will need a lot of First Light’s free drip coffee on Saturday to complete their book trail map!
South Congress Books
3703 Kerbey Ln
This former resident of South Congress has the same name but a new location on Kerbey Lane. They’ll be hosting a KERB SALE in collaboration with Wishbone Antiques, featuring vintage treasures & sale books in the yard. All book trail guests receive a 10% discount and a special discount card to use on their next visit.
North Austin
Black Pearl Books
7112 Burnet Rd
Austin’s only black-owned bookstore will be hosting a black maker’s market from 12-4 PM and open mic poetry from 7-9 PM. They’ll also be unveiling the winning designer of their annual logo competition.
Book Woman
5501 N Lamar Blvd
Austin’s feminist bookstore for the past 50 years will give book trailgoers a free book with a purchase of $40 or more on books, pride gear, and exclusive Independent Bookstore Day merch.
South Austin
Reverie Books
5330 Menchaca Ave
Reverie’s Independent Bookstore Day game is stronger than ever. The prize wheel will be running all day long, free mimosas from 10 to noon, 15% off kids and middle grade books from 10-3 (with face painting!), author and vendor visits, 15% off hardcover fiction from 3-6 PM, and free whiskey shots from 6-8 PM! The kids book trailer will be parked out front all day and the store will be stocked with new t-shirts and art prints.
Buda
Em Dash Books
200 S Main St
This adorable shop for kids books and comics will offer 10% off in store purchases and exclusive Independent Bookstore Day merch on Saturday. (Pro tip – they also still have summer camp spots available!)
Dripping Springs
Sunday Bookshop
28101 Ranch Road 12
This new bookstore bungalow in the Drip will be distributing free Sunday Bookshop tote bags for Independent Bookstore Day.
Georgetown
Lark & Owl Booksellers
205 W 6th St Suite 101
Following closely on the heels of their 5th birthday, Lark & Owl shoppers can pick up an exclusive sticker, enjoy10% off in-store purchases, and search for the Libro.fm golden ticket.
Cedar Park
Paper Bark Birch Books
601 E Whitestone Blvd Building 4 Ste 218
This kids book newcomer to the Railyard Shopping Center in Cedar Park will be hosting storytime with Arendelle’s own Queen Elsa at 11 AM Saturday.
Pflugerville
The Book Burrow
401G W Pecan St
Another golden ticket and exclusive Independent Bookstore Day merch location, The Book Burrow is offering 10% off all day Saturday, with additional activities yet to be announced.
Taylor
Libros Bookshop
401 W 7th St Room 114
Located inside the old Taylor High School, Libros Bookshop specializes in Latine authors and is challenging all Independent Bookstore Day visitors to a grito contest at noon, and you’ll grito muy fuerte if you find the golden ticket hidden here.
Curio Mrvosa
114 N Main St
This mom-and-pop shop in the heart of downtown Taylor has an eclectic mix of new, used, and vintage books. For Independent Bookstore Day, they’re hosting pop-up shops from Haciendo Coffee and Justin Ryan, selling exclusive IBD merch, hiding a Libro.fm golden ticket, and giving away free cookies from Flake.
Lockhart
Best Little Wine & Books
210 W San Antonio St
This wine bar and bookshop in Lockhart offers an unparalleled selection of cookbooks, travel books, and wine guides. Independent Bookstore Day guests can enjoy complimentary chicken karaage from sister kitchen Poke in the Rear.
Bastrop
The Painted Porch
912 Main St
Their motto is “good things happen in bookstores,” and the good things going on at The Painted Porch this Saturday include exclusive IBD releases and merch, and 10% off in-store purchases.
