Grown-Up Book Fair

What: Authors Callie Hunter and Tatianna Salisbury are bringing the joy of old-school Scholastic book fairs back with a grown-up twist. Guests can meet local authors, shop from area bookstores and small businesses, and explore handmade literary-inspired goods — from book-themed candles and coffee to DIY journal-making and bookmark stations.

“Rockford is full of creatives who, now more than ever, need to come together,” Hunter said in a news release. “We want writers and readers alike to know they’re welcome, supported, and celebrated — without judgment or elitism.”

Bennie’s has historically hosted local artists in Rockford’s Art Scene. Filling the venue with a book fair continues that legacy of fostering community through art and storytelling, the organizers said.