Lakeland Book Crawl

ILLUSTRATION BY DANIELLE DOUGHLIN

Since the 1430s, when Johannes Gutenberg famously invented the modern mechanical printing press, people have flocked to places where the newest educational, informational and, of course, fantastical and whimsical books
are available.

In an age where information is at our fingertips, and even being broadcast into our ears and minds at warp speed, a self proclaimed “kooky collaboration” of literacy lovers come together each year to celebrate a love for reading and the value and impact of independent bookstores.

On April 23-25, the 5th Annual Lakeland Book Crawl will take place. It will feature seven local establishments that will be offering special deals, and the Book Crawl will culminate with an After Party at Union Hall on Saturday, April 25, which is National Independent Bookstore Day.

People can snag a Lakeland 2026 Book Crawl Passport from Bookends Used Books, and at each store they visit they can get their passport stamped, increasing their odds of winning a prize at the After Party.  

 The goal of the annual crawl is to bring booksellers, book lovers, and the greater Lakeland community together for serendipitous encounters.

Here is a list of the participating stores and the specials they are running during the Book Crawl.