

2020 has been a challenging year, but we have exciting news! We are pleased to present the virtual edition of The Book Drunkard Literary Festival 2020! Remember to follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and take a look at our upcoming events below!
Looking for the BOOK IMBIBER 6-PAK? See details here!
Interested in what happened at the 2019 Book Drunkard Literary Festival? We will be updating our site soon with an archive of all the wonderful events which took place last year. In the meantime, check out our beautiful festival gallery!
View 2020 EventsThis is the event of the season—two giants of Canadian literature sharing one screen. Margaret Atwood and Lorna Crozier will discuss their latest books, Dearly and Through The Garden, with their publisher, McClelland & Stewart’s Jared Bland.
PURCHASE TICKETSThe glue that holds the Book Drunkard Festival 2020 together is, without a doubt, author Bianca Marais. When Bianca approached about ‘helping out through Covid’ she had no idea what she was getting into!
Bianca hosted our Zoom Summer Series and gained an audience of fans. As the Zoom voice of Blue Heron Books she brings her signature style to all her interviews. As the host of The Book Drunkard Festival, she has read, researched, and reviewed each of the books and in her interview will bring her warm. empathetic style to bear. Her genuine and intimate manner ensures that the listener feels as if they’re eavesdropping on two friends having a social conversation.
Learn more about Bianca below!
View Bianca's BiographyMärzen | 5.5% alc./vol. – Seasonal
The Book Drunkard Literary Festival captures the wonderment of the written word and praises its ability to intoxicate, transport and transform. What better way to celebrate than with the traditional beer of Germany’s Oktoberfest? Pouring a clear pale amber, The Book Drunkard märzen is an exceptionally smooth, medium-bodied lager. An aroma of fresh-baked bread draws you into the sip, where rich malt flavour is gently balanced by spicy/floral noble hops. Ein prosit!
This seasonal beer will be available in cans and on tap at The Second Wedge Brewing Co from October 8th!
This bar is in honour of L. M. Montgomery who penned many of her books a few kilometres away from Blue Heron Books and DesBarres chocolate factory. The bar combines the smooth and chocolatey richness of 70% Dominicana with tart freeze-dried raspberries and a hint of fresh lemon peel. Munch on this bar while re-reading the story of Anne Shirley, Diana Barry and the rascally “raspberry cordial”. You will fall in love with Anne and the Kindred Spirits bar!
Available for purchase at Blue Heron Books.
(Fun fact! The inner liner of your Kindred Spirit Raspberry Cordial bar is a beautiful bookmark, designed by artist Tracy Walker!)
In bookselling, 30 years is something worth celebrating. Small business is tough and bookselling even tougher. But Blue Heron Books succeeded! And the future is looking very bright indeed.
To mark this auspicious occasion, Blue Heron Books inaugurated The Book Drunkard Literary Festival. A longtime dream of owner, Shelley Macbeth, the festival embraces all things dear to booklovers – great books and authors, great theatre, great food and drink and great music. You will be impressed by the depth and breadth of the festival. There truly is something for everyone!
In addition, 30 Random Acts of Book Kindness is Blue Heron’s way of acknowledging this milestone by giving back to the community that has supported the store through thirty years of ups and downs. Blue Heron commits to undertake 30 acts of book kindness – big and small –that will initiate or enhance the reading life of many. One of these projects, well underway, is establishing a read-aloud program at local nursing homes.
As well, a Facebook campaign to nurture indie bookseller love across the country will be ushered in to encourage Canadian readers to continue supporting the indie bookstore in their neighbourhood.
And finally, what’s a milestone without a party? Blue Heron Books opened its doors to former staff and all customers during the fall of 2019, where an anniversary scrapbook was on display with LOTS of memorabilia. Stories were shared – a common occurrence at Blue Heron Books – and guests came armed with theirs!
View 2019 Festival Gallery