Find 'Wonderland' at the 74th Annual Greater St. Louis Book Fair

Discover Wonderland and rare treasures at the 74th Annual Greater St. Louis Book Fair, featuring books, collectibles, and more. Join us May 2-5 at Queeny Park!

on Apr 17, 2024

Find 'Wonderland' at the 74th Annual Greater St. Louis Book Fair | Frontlist

There is something therapeutic about diving into a good book. Perhaps this is why, some 75 years later, the Greater St. Louis Book Fair remains the largest charity book fair in the Midwest.

From Thursday, May 2 to Sunday, May 5, the 74th annual Book Fair will take over the Greensfelder Recreation Complex in Queeny Park, 550 Wiedman Road.

This year's offerings include books, collectibles, records, CDs, DVDs, comics, and ephemera (paper things that people collect).

"We have collected thousands of books throughout the metro area," said Marilyn Brown, an event co-chair and long-time volunteer. "Thanks to the community's generosity, we are bursting with every form of book one can imagine.

"In our Collector's Corner, we have over 100 rare items that are generally priced from $20 or $25 on up, which is usually about one-third to one-fourth of what a collector would pay online."

These gifts, which may be viewed online at stlouisbookfair.org, include items relating to Charles A. Lindbergh and the St. Louis World Fair, as well as two rare copies of "Alice in Wonderland."

For bibliophiles, the Book Fair can feel like Wonderland, but don't be afraid of unexpected twists and turns—only delicious surprises.

The show is known for its well-organized sales floor. literature are organized by subject, such as cuisine, travel, ethnic-centric issues, history, biographies, and genre, such as mystery, graphic novels, fantasy, children's literature, and so on.

Line tickets will go on sale at 8 a.m. on Thursday, May 2. These place-holder tickets are $25 each and allow you to leave and return before the fair's 4 p.m. opening. access is $15 on opening day, however from Friday to Sunday, general access is free. The fair's hours are 4-9 p.m. on Thursday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on Sunday, which is also half-price day.

Registered NGOs can choose books for free from 3-6 p.m. on Sunday.

Since its start, the Book Fair's purpose has been to inspire thousands of local children to enjoy reading. Since 1950, more than $1 million has been contributed to local literacy nonprofits. Beneficiaries include the Assistance League of St. Louis, Ready Readers, Books for Newborns, Haven of Grace, and The Little Bit Foundation, among many more.

The St. Louis Book Fair accepts both volunteers and monetary donations. Volunteer options for people aged 12 and up include anything from greeters to cart wranglers, with a wide selection of shifts available. The Fair welcomes new or gently used books, comics, CDs, DVDs, and collectibles; visit stlouisbookfair.org for drop-off locations and additional information, or call (314) 993-1995.