Courtesy of Tropes & Trifles
Readers, grab your tote bags and your walking shoes—Independent Bookstore Day (IBD) returns on Saturday, April 25. This annual celebration of literacy and community marks its 13th anniversary this year and encourages book lovers of all ages to patronize local shops in their neighborhoods or across town.
Over the past decade-plus, local bookstores have found creative—and effective—ways to face down big-box stores and the explosion of online shopping. One of those strategies is an old standby: power in numbers. By coordinating and collaborating via groups like the Midwest Independent Booksellers Association and events like IBD, indie shops remind us that reading is, in many ways, a community activity—and that part of the fun of book shopping is meeting the helpful folks behind the counter.
“People have a lot of excitement around reading and discovering new books, and we certainly celebrate the writers and artists who create them, but the middle-persons, so to speak—the booksellers—are such a vital part of that,” says Eric Lorberer. “They’re the ones who connect the art with the audience, so IBD is a chance to remind ourselves of that.” Lorberer is the executive director of Rain Taxi, a Twin Cities literary organization that publishes the Rain Taxi Review of Books, a print quarterly, and the Twin Cities Literary Calendar, an online resource for book signings and other bookish happenings around the region.
And although IBD is a national event, Minnesota does it especially well. In the metro, 38 bookstores are part of the Twin Cities Independent Bookstore Passport, a pocket-sized, illustrated guide produced by Rain Taxi. Pick up your passport at your first stop of the day—all of the participating stores have them on hand—and collect a stamp at each bookstore you visit. The fun isn’t limited to IBD itself; between Wednesday, April 22, and Sunday, April 26, readers can collect stamps for opportunities to win prizes and coupons. (See below for a full list of participating shops.)
“One of the really fun things over the years has just been seeing how, in many communities, small stores like these are closing and struggling to remain viable,” Lorberer says. “But the Twin Cities is so robust that our passport keeps getting bigger and bigger.”
Check It Out
Bookmarks at the ready? Here’s a (not exhaustive) list of Independent Bookstore Day happenings around the state.
The Thinking Spot, Wayzata
Visit during extended Saturday hours (9 a.m.-7 p.m.) for exclusive IBD books and merch, plus free cookies and coffee.
Wild Rumpus, Minneapolis
This beloved children’s bookstore co-hosts a special “story stroll,” which stretches from Wild Rumpus to fellow indie bookstore Comma.
Red Balloon Bookshop, St. Paul
Visitors to Red Balloon can find exclusive merch, giveaways, scratch-offs, and more special items for IBD.
Milkweed Books, Minneapolis
Milkweed, an indie publisher, also has a charming brick-and-mortar storefront at Open Book, a Minneapolis literary center. On IBD, they’ll offer a few different buy-some-get-some promos, plus exclusive totes for Milkweed members.
Niche Books, Lakeville
Niche offers 20% off used books for IBD, plus exclusive totes for sale. The shop is also participating in the Libro.fm. Golden Ticket Hunt—the shopper who finds a ticket hidden in the store receives 12 free audiobooks.
Zenith Bookstore, Duluth
Stop by Zenith on April 25 for snacks, free advanced reader copies, and a signing with author Alex Messenger. 10% of the day’s sales will go to Save the Boundary Waters, a regional conservation org.
Next Chapter Booksellers, St. Paul
Doorbusters who show up early can snag free coffee. Next Chapter also offers beloved Blackwing pencils on IBD—and it’s a Libro.fm hunt location, too.
Lykke Books, New Ulm
From a 10 a.m. story time with local author Gail Boe to a craft activity at noon, Lykke has a full calendar of IBD events. Write your own “shelf talker” card or check out book speed dating at 1 p.m. to find your next great read.
Bonus: Post Passport Ice-Breaker
Because reading can sometimes feel like a solitary pursuit, the folks behind the passport are hosting a get-together for likeminded book lovers at 56 Brewing on May 6. The free event features craft beverages, food trucks, and short readings by local authors. Visit raintaxi.com for more details and to RSVP.
Courtesy of Rain Taxi | Illustration by Kevin Cannon
Twin Cities Independent Bookstore Passport: 2026 Locations
Where to get your passport stamped on April 26
Acorn Bookshop
Against the Current
Avant Garden Bookstore
Babycake’s Book Stack
Big Hill Books
Birchbark Books
Black Garnet Books
Black Letter Books
Boneshaker Books
The Book House in Dinkytown
Chapter2 Books
Comma, a bookshop
Cream & Amber
DreamHaven Books
Eat My Words Bookstore
Excelsior Bay Books
Inkwell Booksellers Company
Lake Country Booksellers
Magers & Quinn Booksellers
Mayday Books
Midway Books Store
Milkweed Books
Moon Palace Books
Next Chapter Booksellers
Niche Books
Once Upon A Crime
Paperback Exchange
Red Balloon Bookshop
Story Line Books
Strive Bookstore
SubText Books
The Thinking Spot
Tropes & Trifles
Uncle Hugo’s & Uncle Edgar’s Bookstores
University of Minnesota Bookstores
Valley Bookseller
The Vintage Storyteller
Wild Rumpus Books
