The Printers Row Lit Fest took over Dearborn street for the 35th year, lining it with vibrant green tents that housed the diverse works of over 100 booksellers. The 2019 festival continued the tradition of being the largest free outdoor literary showcase in the Midwest, granting book lovers nationwide the opportunity to further explore and indulge their story loving spirits.
This weekend-long celebration planned by the Near South Planning Board and sponsored by Wintrust welcomed over 100,000 visitors. A jam-packed schedule featured over 100 authors, artists, and performers guaranteed to entertain bookworms of all ages and interests. Speakers voiced their passions and interacted with inquisitive crowds, cooking demos offered tasty renditions of mouthwatering recipes straight from the books, poetry readings and open mic sessions filled the warm summer air with expressive feelings and ideas, and workshops allowed visitors to hone their craft.
Bernie’s Book Bank was proud to have a strong presence at the festival, collecting book donations, selling merchandise, and spreading the mission. Our team was fortunate to connect with community members, volunteers, and even some of the children who receive our books.
Throughout the course of the weekend, Bernie’s Book Bank received more than 750 children’s books. Bernie’s Book Bank is grateful to have the opportunity to continue to grow our organization amongst a community that understands that the importance of book ownership should not and cannot be overlooked.