Wooster welcomes writers and readers to 38th annual Buckeye Book Fair

Calling all bibliophiles.

The 38th annual Buckeye Book Fair will take place Saturday, Nov. 1 at Greystone Event Center, 50 Riffel Road, Wooster, with a $2 donation requested. Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. with a sensory-friendly environment from 2-4 p.m. Aisles will be wide and accessible.

The Young Authors Awards Ceremony, featuring guest speaker author Shannon Hale, is open to the public and will take place Oct. 30 at 7 p.m. at Greystone. Tickets are available online. The inaugural awards event is part of the Young Authors Initiative, which includes the Young Authors Conference, where students are bused to the Book Fair location to learn from professional authors and illustrators.

This year’s fair will feature 110 writers and illustrators in a variety of genres. Beyond author meet-and-greets and book-signings, the fair will offer interactive panel discussions, a scavenger hunt for families and young readers, hands-on workshops for aspiring writers and creatives, and special programming for educators and librarians. Bluey from Orrville Library will join, along with a few other mascot-style friends. Fair proceeds will support statewide literacy programs.

“I think the best additions to the Buckeye Book Fair in 2025 are new and stronger partnerships,” said Kimberly Jarvis, the fair’s executive director.

The Buckeye Book Crawl, a partnership with Wayne County Public Library, will feature four free author events, beginning Monday, Oct. 27 at 7 p.m. On Wednesday, Oct. 29 at 5:30 p.m. at the downtown library, kids can meet the author of "Diego Fuego the Firefighting Dragon," attend a touch a fire truck and meet firefighters. Find details and registration information on the website.

Traveling Stanza’s Poetry Makerspace will be at the fair this year.

“Poetry is such a healing and expressive art form,” Jarvis said. “There will be professional writers from Kent State's Wick Poetry Center to guide students through the Makerspace journey. They show visitors how to form poems and use poetry for fun and purpose.”

The Lyric Theater will show "Austinland," a movie based on Shannon Hale's book, right after the fair on Saturday. Guests can get a ticket on the Lyric website that includes the signed book.

“Buckeye Book Fair is the most personal book event in the nation,” Jarvis said. “There are some authors who have been coming for decades, so they get to meet the children and grandchildren of those they've met over the years.”

Author Patrick Eugene Ryan is new to the book fair this year. A resident of New York City, Ryan’s book is set in Ohio, and he’s excited to meet all the Ohioans at the fair.

Another first-time attending author, Jarod K. Anderson, lives in Delaware, Ohio.

“My book often celebrates Ohio landscapes and woodlands, so there's something special about the opportunity to discuss my work in an Ohio-specific context,” he said.

The Buckeye Book Fair is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit.

“We would love to partner with more community members to help students get books,” Jarvis said. “Each year we give away hundreds of books and seek support for our Young Authors Initiative.”

Volunteers also are needed for a variety of tasks. For more information on donating or volunteering, email info@BuckeyeBookFair.org. Mail donation checks to Buckeye Book Fair, 304 N. Market St., Wooster, OH 44691. Additionally, the fair is always interested in hearing from Ohioans with book recommendations.

Visit www.BuckeyeBookFair.org to view the full lineup of events and activities including times and registration for the book crawl and Young Authors Award events or to volunteer or donate online.

There will be make-and-take crafts and read-aloud stories during the day. Parents should not leave their children unsupervised in the family fun areas.

“There are books for all ages,” Jarvis said. “Thank you to the community of Wooster, Wayne County, Tri-County Educational Service Center, Ohio Arts Council, Ohio Alliance for Arts Education and Wayne County Public Library for welcoming Ohio's readers, authors and illustrators.”