It is the most magical day of the year!!  Join us on the lawn of both the Glastonbury and West Hartford locations for a load of bookish fun!!!  We will have Independent Bookstore Day Exclusive Merchandise, Snacks, Prizes, and of course, BOOKS!!  Let's celebrate together!

Open early for extra fun!  Join us starting at 9am.

River Bend Bookshop will celebrate Independent Bookstore Day on Saturday, April 29th with activities and events, and will offer exclusive merchandise created especially for Independent Bookstore Day by major publishers and authors. Since its inception in 2014, more than 160 authors have demonstrated their support for independent bookstores by donating work for Indie Bookstore Day. These limited edition, unique items will be available only on April 29. Not before. Not after. And not in chain stores!

Celebrate your local indies on Independent Bookstore Day by participating in the Connecticut Independent Bookstore Day Passport! Visit all participating bookstores over the weekend to win a Passport Prize (a 20% coupon from each store, some exclusions apply), and be entered into a Grand Prize raffle. Five (5) people will be drawn at random to win a Grand Prize of a $50 gift card from EACH store! 

In-Store Events:

• Raffle: Sign up for our email newsletter and you’ll be entered into a raffle for a $25.00 gift card!

• Social Media Bookstore Champion Awards: show your love for River Bend on social media on April 29-30 and tag us @riverbendbookshop for the chance to win one of Five (5) $20 gift cards.

• Spin the Prize Wheel: win free books, River Bend merch, and bookish goodies.  

• Special guest booksellers and book signings throughout the day.

• Secret social media codes! Stay tuned to our Facebook and Instagram feeds starting at 10am. We'll release secret codes every couple hours that could get you a special discount or even a prize! 

EXCLUSIVE ITEMS AVAILABLE AT RIVER BEND BOOKSHOP ON INDIE BOOKSTORE DAY:

These unique Indie Bookstore Day items will be available in limited quantity on a first come, first serve basis. 

2023 Independent Bookstore Day Tote Bag, with a retro “Meet Me at the Bookstore” design, this tote is big enough for a serious Book Haul. 

Independent Bookstore Day Blackwing Pencils in an exclusive partnership with famed Blackwing, this limited edition set celebrates independent bookstores and the beauty of books.  Each pencil features a design inspired by the spine of a leatherbound book and Blackwing’s firm graphite. Each box is beautifully designed to match the pencils and includes a pro-indie message.