Planning an event for book lovers can be a real page-turner. You’ve got the main plot sorted—perhaps an author signing, a new book launch, or a literary festival. But what about the subplots? The little details that transform a good event into an unforgettable one? These are the fringe activities, and for an audience of bookworms, they need to be just as compelling as the main event.
Fringe activities are the supporting cast that can steal the show. They provide unique, engaging experiences that keep attendees entertained between scheduled sessions, encourage mingling, and create those shareable moments that will have people talking long after the last page is turned. For a book-themed event, these activities should celebrate the joy of reading, storytelling, and the rich world of literature in creative and interactive ways.
This guide provides twelve amazing fringe activities designed specifically for bookworms. From hands-on creative workshops to immersive literary games, these ideas will help you add extra layers of fun and engagement to your next event, ensuring your guests leave with more than just a new book—they’ll leave with lasting memories.
Why Bother with Fringe Activities?
Before we get to the ideas, let’s quickly touch on why fringe activities are so crucial for any literary event.
- Boosts Engagement: They give attendees something fun and interactive to do during downtime, preventing lulls and keeping energy levels high.
- Encourages Networking: Shared activities are natural icebreakers. They help shy book lovers connect over a shared passion, fostering a sense of community.
- Creates Memorable Experiences: A unique activity like a custom bookmark station or a literary-themed escape room is what people will remember and post about on social media.
- Adds Value: Fringe activities show you’ve gone the extra mile. They enhance the overall value of the event, making attendees feel they got more than their money’s worth.
12 Fringe Activities Your Bookworms Will Love
Here are twelve creative ideas to inspire your next literary event.
1. Custom Bookmark Making Station
Every reader needs a bookmark, so why not let them create their own? A bookmark-making station is a simple, cost-effective, and highly popular fringe activity.
- How it Works: Set up a table with all the necessary supplies. This should include high-quality cardstock pre-cut into bookmark shapes, hole punchers, and a variety of decorative materials. Think colorful ribbons, tassels, stamps with literary quotes, stickers, and a range of pens and markers. You could even provide laminating pouches and a small laminator for a professional finish.
- Why it Works: This activity is a perfect blend of creativity and utility. Attendees can design a bookmark that reflects their personal style or the themes of the event. It’s a hands-on, relaxing activity that provides a personalized souvenir to take home.
2. Live “Book Cover” Caricaturist
Give the classic event caricaturist a literary twist. Instead of just drawing portraits, hire an artist to draw attendees as the hero of their own fictional book cover.
- How it Works: The artist can ask guests about their favorite genre—fantasy, sci-fi, romance, mystery—and then sketch a caricature of them on a pre-designed book cover template. The template could include a spot for a witty, personalized title, like “The Adventures of [Guest’s Name]” or “The [Guest’s Name] Mysteries.”
- Why it Works: This is a highly personalized and entertaining activity. It provides a unique and humorous keepsake that is perfect for sharing on social media. Watching the artist at work is also great entertainment for those waiting in line.
3. “Guess the First Line” Game
Test your attendees’ literary knowledge with a fun and competitive guessing game. This can be run as an ongoing activity throughout the event.
- How it Works: Print famous first lines from classic and contemporary novels onto cards or a large display board, but leave out the book titles. Guests can submit their guesses on a slip of paper. You can announce the winners at the end of the event, with small prizes for those who get the most correct answers.
- Why it Works: Book lovers enjoy showing off their literary expertise. This game sparks conversation and friendly competition, encouraging guests to interact and discuss their favorite books. It’s easy to set up and can be adapted for different difficulty levels.
4. Literary-Themed Photo Booth
A photo booth is a staple at modern events, and it’s easy to give it a bookish theme.
- How it Works: Create a backdrop that looks like a library, a famous literary location (like Diagon Alley or the Mad Hatter’s tea party), or a giant open book. Provide a variety of props, such as quill pens, magnifying glasses, wizard hats, vintage typewriters, and speech bubbles with famous quotes.
- Why it Works: Photo booths are always a hit. They encourage guests to be playful and capture fun memories of the event. The themed props add a layer of creativity and result in photos that attendees will be excited to share online, extending your event’s reach.
5. Blind Date with a Book
This activity is a charming way to help attendees discover their next favorite read.
- How it Works: Collect a variety of books—these can be donated, sourced from a partner bookstore, or be advance reader copies (ARCs). Wrap each book in plain paper and write a short, intriguing description on the front, hinting at the plot without revealing the title or author (e.g., “A magical boarding school, a boy with a scar, and a battle against evil.”). Attendees can then pick a book based solely on its description.
- Why it Works: It adds an element of surprise and discovery to the reading experience. It encourages readers to step outside their usual genres and try something new. Plus, it’s a wonderful way to promote books and support authors.
6. Bookbinding or Calligraphy Workshop
Offer a more in-depth, hands-on experience with a mini-workshop focused on the art of the book.
- How it Works: Partner with a local artisan to lead a short workshop on basic bookbinding or modern calligraphy. Provide all the materials for guests to create their own small notebook or practice writing beautiful literary quotes. Keep sessions short (20-30 minutes) so people can drop in and out.
- Why it Works: These workshops offer a unique skill-building opportunity and a deep appreciation for the craft behind books. Guests leave with a tangible item they created themselves, making the experience highly rewarding.
7. “Poetry on Demand” Poet
Hire a poet to create personalized poems for your guests on the spot.
- How it Works: Set up a poet at a small table with a vintage typewriter. Guests can give the poet a word, a theme, or a short story about themselves, and the poet will compose a unique, one-of-a-kind poem for them.
- Why it Works: This is a deeply personal and intimate experience. It combines performance art with literature and provides attendees with a beautiful, custom-made piece of art to cherish. The rhythmic clacking of the typewriter keys also adds a wonderful ambiance to the event.
8. Genre-Themed Snack and Drink Bar
Connect the culinary experience to the literary theme by creating a special menu.
- How it Works: Design a menu where food and drinks are named after famous books or literary characters. For example, you could serve “Tequila Mockingbird” cocktails, “The Great Gatsby” champagne flutes, or “A Clockwork Orange” mimosas. For snacks, consider “Scones of Wrath” or chocolate frogs from Harry Potter.
- Why it Works: This adds a fun, whimsical layer to your catering and serves as a great conversation starter. It shows a creative attention to detail that book lovers will appreciate.
9. Literary Scavenger Hunt
Get your attendees moving and exploring the event space with a book-themed scavenger hunt.
- How it Works: Create a list of clues related to famous books or authors. Each clue should lead to a specific location within your event venue. For example, a clue could be, “Find the place where you’d ask ‘more?’ like a certain hungry orphan,” leading them to the food station. The first person or team to solve all the clues and reach the final destination wins a prize.
- Why it Works: A scavenger hunt is an active and engaging way to encourage exploration and interaction. It’s perfect for larger venues and helps ensure attendees see everything your event has to offer.
10. Digital “Shelfie” Station
In the age of social media, a “shelfie” (a selfie with a bookshelf) is a popular trend among book lovers.
- How it Works: Set up a beautifully curated bookshelf with a mix of classic and contemporary titles, interesting bookends, and small decorative items. Encourage guests to take a “shelfie” and post it on social media with a specific event hashtag. You could even run a contest for the most creative shelfie.
- Why it Works: This activity taps into an existing online trend and provides a visually appealing backdrop for photos. It’s an effective way to generate user-generated content and promote your event online.
11. Book Swap Corner
A book swap is a simple and community-oriented activity that all book lovers can get behind.
- How it Works: Designate a cozy corner of your venue as a book swap zone. Invite attendees to bring a gently used book they’re willing to part with and exchange it for a new one from the collection. You can start the swap with a few seed books to get it going.
- Why it Works: It fosters a sense of sharing and community. Attendees get to declutter their own shelves and go home with a new-to-them book, all for free. It’s sustainable, interactive, and perfectly aligned with the spirit of reading.
12. Create a Collaborative Story
Unleash the collective imagination of your attendees with a collaborative storytelling activity.
- How it Works: Place a large whiteboard or a roll of paper in a prominent area with a compelling story starter, such as, “The old librarian locked the doors for the night, unaware that one of the books on the shelf was glowing faintly…” Invite guests to add one sentence to the story as the event progresses.
- Why it Works: This activity is interactive, creative, and evolves throughout the event. It’s fascinating to see the unexpected twists and turns the story takes. Reading the final result aloud at the end of the event can be a fun and engaging closing activity.
A Memorable Final Chapter
Fringe activitiesfrom Fun Print are what elevate a standard event into a truly special occasion. By incorporating a few of these bookworm-friendly ideas, you can create an immersive, engaging, and memorable experience that celebrates the magic of reading. These activities not only entertain your guests but also build a stronger sense of community and leave them eagerly awaiting your next event. So, think beyond the main attraction and give your attendees a story worth telling.
