Shenandoah Valley Indie Bookshop Crawl 2026

In honor of Independent Bookstore Day, Stone Soup Books is excited to team up with eight other bookshops across the valley and beyond to bring you our first ever Shenandoah Valley Indie Bookshop Crawl! This two-week celebration (April 10 - 25, 2026) brings book lovers together across the region, reminding us how much joy there is in gathering around books and in showing up for the independent shops that bring them to us.

During the crawl, participants can pick up a passport at any participating bookstore or download one online at valleybookshops.com. Readers who collect a stamp or sticker at each shop they visit may enter one store-specific drawing for a $50 prize from the participating bookstore of their choice—but readers who visit seven or more participating bookstores and collect seven or more stamps or stickers will also be entered into a grand prize drawing to win a $25 gift card from every participating shop, with a total value of $225!

This Indie Bookshop Crawl encourages residents and visitors alike to enjoy scenic drives, historic downtowns, cafés, mountain views, and the pleasure of discovering new books and bookstores along the way. Organizers hope the event will shine a light on the important role independent bookstores play as cultural spaces, gathering places, and small businesses in the Shenandoah Valley.

Save the date, and be sure to visit valleybookshops.com for more information on how to participate!