The Shenandoah Valley Indie Bookshop Crawl is an invitation to travel slowly, read widely, and celebrate the independent bookshops that help keep our towns vibrant. From Winchester to Buena Vista, each stop offers its own personality, carefully chosen shelves, and conversations with booksellers who care deeply about what they do. Visiting these shops is more than a shopping trip. It is a way to support local businesses, sustain cultural spaces, and strengthen the communities that make the Valley feel welcoming and alive.Along the way, readers can enjoy scenic drives, historic main streets, cozy cafés, mountain views, and the easy rhythm of small-town exploration. Plan a day trip or make a weekend of it. Discover a new author, linger over a recommendation, and leave with stories that connect you to the places you have visited. This two-week celebration (April 10 - 25, 2026) brings book lovers together across the region, reminding us how much joy there is in gathering around books and in showing up for the independent shops that bring them to us.Every participant may enter one store-specific drawing for a $50 prize from the participating bookshop of their choice. Simply check the box for your favorite shop on your passport.Visit 7 or more participating bookshops and collect 7+ stamps or stickers to enter the grand prize drawing for a $25 gift card from each participating store, worth $225 total.With 7 or more stops, you can enter both a store-specific prize and the grand prize.Can't submit your passport in person? Send it to us at [email protected]!

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• Frequently Asked Questions
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• Special Events

Participating Bookstores

North

Bonfire Bookstore & Yarnery
108 N. Main St
Woodstock, VA
📍Find on Google MapsWinchester Book Gallery
7 N Loudoun St
Winchester, VA
📍Find on Google Maps

Central

Bluebird & Co.
5792 Three Notch'd Rd
Crozet, VA
📍 Find on Google MapsThe Book Dragon
102 W Beverley Street
Staunton, VA
📍Find on Google Maps(Parentheses)
76 W Gay St
Harrisonburg, VA
📍Find on Google MapsStaunton Books & Tea
34 E Beverley St
Staunton, VA
📍Find on Google MapsStone Soup Books
402 W Main St
Waynesboro, VA
📍Find on Google MapsWords Matter
110 E Beverley St
Staunton, VA
📍Find on Google Maps

South

Leaf & Lore
2077 Magnolia Ave
Buena Vista, VA
📍Find on Google Maps

Participating in the Shenandoah Valley Indie Bookshop Crawl is simple. Whether you visit one shop or many, every stop supports independent booksellers and the communities they serve.Step 1: Pick up your crawl passport or download it here.Starting April 10, you can pick up a free passport at any participating bookshop. The passport includes a list of shops and space to collect stamps or stickers along the way.Step 2: Plan your route.Choose a town, a region, or a scenic drive through the Valley. You can complete the crawl in one weekend, over several weekends, or throughout the full two-week period.Step 3: Collect stamps as you visit.Each time you stop at a participating bookshop, ask a bookseller to stamp your passport. Browse, buy a book, or simply enjoy the space. No purchase necessary to participate (though highly encouraged!)Step 4: Select your preferred bookshop’s giveaway.Select which shop’s drawing you want to enter for their specific giveaway. Select one by checking the box at the bottom of your preferred shop’s passport entry square. If you don’t select one, you will be entered for a chance drawing at one of the shops.Step 5: Submit your passport for prizes!When the crawl ends on April 25, completed or partially completed passports can be submitted at participating shops to be entered into prize drawings. Alternatively, you can submit your passport by emailing a photo to [email protected].Step 6: Share your indie bookshop adventures!Tag bookshops as you crawl and use the hashtag #valleybookshops #indiebookstoreday2026!However you choose to participate, your visit helps keep independent bookshops vibrant across the Shenandoah Valley.

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Do I need to visit all participating bookshops?No. You can visit as many or as few bookshops as you like. The crawl is designed to be flexible. Some visitors may plan a full Valley road trip, while others may explore just one town.Where do I get a crawl passport?Free passports will be available at all participating bookshops starting April 10 as well as on our website (download and print it!). You can begin the crawl at any location.Is there a cost to participate?No. Participation in the crawl is free. Visitors are encouraged to support independent bookshops by browsing, attending events, or purchasing books and other items.How long does the crawl last?The Shenandoah Valley Indie Bookshop Crawl runs from April 10 through April 25. You can participate at any time during this two-week period.Do I need to complete the crawl in one day?Not at all. Many visitors choose to spread their visits across multiple days or weekends. The crawl is designed to encourage relaxed exploration of the Valley.How do I collect stamps or stickers?Each participating bookshop will stamp your passport when you visit. Simply ask a bookseller at the counter.What can I win?Visitors who submit partially completed passports will be entered into prize drawings at an individual shop of their choice (please indicate your preferred shop on your passport).Visitors who submit a passport with at least 7 completed stops will be entered into a grand prize drawing.Where do I submit my passport?Passports can be submitted at participating bookshops at the end of the crawl period. Alternatively, email a picture of your passport to valleybookshops.comAre bookshop hours the same at every location?No. Each bookshop maintains its own hours. Visitors are encouraged to check individual websites or social media before planning their visit.Can I start the crawl in any town?Yes. There is no set starting point. You are welcome to begin wherever it is most convenient for you.Will there be special events during the crawl?Some bookshops may host readings, signings, or community gatherings during the two-week period and very likely on Indie Bookstore Day itself (April 25, 2026). Event details will be shared on individual bookshop channels and may be added to this website.Is the crawl family-friendly?Yes. Many participating bookshops welcome visitors of all ages and have dedicated children’s sections!

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Apr 11, 3:00 PM - Board Game Day

Come between 3-7 PM to play one of our demo board games, or bring your own favorite!

Apr 18, 2:00 PM - Sit & Stitch

Join us from 2-4 PM for our monthly Saturday sit & stitch! Bring your current knitting, crochet, or craft project. And, if you're participating in our 2026 Yarn Bingo, bring your finished projects for a show & tell!

Apr 18, 7:30 PM - Firestarter Revue Variety Show

From 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM. Come by 7 to grab your seat; $5 suggested donation.A community variety show featuring 7-minute sets. Organized and hosted by the Society for the Preservation of Gravity. Sign up in advance; anything goes. The only rules are:- You must attend at least one Firestarter Revue before performing in one
- You must be sober to perform
- No mimes, no knives!

Apr 18 & 19 - Semi-Annual Sidewalk Sale

Our semi-annual SIDEWALK SALE! Come all weekend (April 18 & 19) for a selection of new books at 30% off and $2 used books!

Apr 21, 6:30 PM - The Secret Life of Bookshops

A conversation with Evan Friss and Anika Horn.

Apr 14, 7:00 PM - Books & Brews

The WMRA Books & Brews series wraps up this season with Mailman: My Wild Ride Delivering the Mail in Appalachia and Finally Finding Home by Stephen Starring Grant.An exuberant, hilarious, and profound memoir by a mailman in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, who found that working for the post office saved his life, taught him who he was, gave him purpose, and educated him deeply about a country he loves but had lost touch with.

Apr 18, 10:00 AM - Plant Grateful

Plant Grateful is back and better than ever in 2026. Celebrate beautiful plants and get a sneak peak at what local farmers are offering this spring. Join us for a community plant swap, farmer's plant sale, workshops, children's activities, music, and more.Lunch will be from 11-1, and donations are appreciated. All proceeds will go to The Blue Ridge Children's Museum.

Apr 21, 6:30 PM - Stone Soup Books Book Club

The Good Life by Robert Waldinger, MD and Marc Schulz, PhD is our April pick for our book discussion. Please join us!What makes a life fulfilling and meaningful? The simple but surprising answer is: relationships. The stronger our relationships, the more likely we are to live happy, satisfying, and healthier lives. In fact, the Harvard Study of Adult Development reveals that the strength of our connections with others can predict the health of both our bodies and our brains as we go through life.