Grass Roots Books & Music, Corvallis, Ore., recently hosted its first Midsummer Read-In event at the bookstore. Jay Enghauser, event & promotion coordinator at Grass Roots, noted that every summer, the town features a "Crazy Days" sidewalk sale, but this year it was rebranded to "Midsummer Market." This also coincides with Oregon State University's summer Shakespeare program, Bard in the Quad, which was about to show A Midsummer Night's Dream.
"I had seen read-ins done at other bookstores, like Daffodil in Eugene, Ore., and decided to run one for Grass Roots," Enghauser said. "This turned into a Midsummer Read-In, featuring three bookish mocktails that my spouse made. We also had comfy seating, a sale on all sci-fi and fantasy books for the day, and hosted a tarot reader in our mezzanine." The mocktails served were Star-Crossed Lovers, from Romeo & Juliet; Tamlin's Tears, from A Court of Thorns and Roses; and Lavender Haze from Fourth Wing.
"It was a huge hit for all involved," Enghauser added "We had about 50 people in the store at one time. Many folks came up asking for when the next one was scheduled and requesting that we make this a regular event. This was our first read-in, but we know now that it will be far from our last. We were really happily surprised with how many people took their own photos and shared on social media. A local author, Kate Hope Day, even came by and expressed her excitement for the event as well."