All Aboard the Holiday Trolley!
Ride from bookstore to bookstore for a festive shopping adventure filled with stories and cheer.
Climb aboard a holiday trolley for a festive ride, stopping at indie bookstores along your route! Our first ever Chicagoland Holiday Bookstore Trolley brings together 43 indie bookstores across the city and suburbs for an extra special holiday shopping experience. Get your favorite holiday sweater ready!
Event Highlights
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Trolley Ride
Travel to 4-5 participating independent bookstores on a fun and festive trolley. Each trolley will have a unique host aboard to guide the experience. |
Holiday Swag
Each ticket includes Chicagoland Holiday Bookstore Trolley swag. Details to come 😎 |
Holiday Shopping
Spend time in each bookstore browsing shelves of handpicked reads, unique gifts, and seasonal surprises. |
How It Works
There are 10 different routes to choose from, and each route includes stops at 4-5 bookstores. Each route has a unique starting location (in Chicago and Surrounding Suburbs) and a unique duration. Please review the schedule options carefully to make sure you select the correct tickets. Route details are listed below!
This is our first year launching this program, and we can’t wait for you to join us! As always, thank you for shopping local and supporting independent bookstores.
This is our first year launching this program, and we can’t wait for you to join us! As always, thank you for shopping local and supporting independent bookstores.
All trolley routes are currently SOLD OUT.
Update: Join the waitlist!!
AND! When you purchase your trolley ticket before November 15, 2025 at 11:59 pm, you’ll be entered into a raffle where two lucky winners will receive a 2-ticket package to see A Christmas Carol at Goodman's Albert Theatre!
2025 Holiday Season Trolley Routes
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Route 1 - Saturday Morning 12/06 - 9:30 AM
Tour begins and ends at Bookends & Beginnings 1620 Orrington Ave, Evanston, IL 60201 Stops on Route 1: Bookends & Beginnings (start) Book Bin New Book Joy - Chicago Zora's Place Booked Bookends & Beginnings (end) Route 2 - Saturday Afternoon 12/06 - 2:00 PM
Tour begins and ends at Restoried Bookshop 4613 N Kedzie Ave, Chicago, IL 60625 Stops on Route 2: Restoried Bookshop (start) Time and a half Books Women & Children First Three Avenues Bookshop Restoried Bookshop (end) Route 3 - Sunday Morning 12/07 - 10:30 AM
Tour begins and ends at The Book Stall 811 Elm St, Winnetka, IL 60093 Stops on Route 3: The Book Stall (start) About Time Bookstore Lake Forest Book Store Secret World Books The Book Stall (end) Route 4 - Sunday Afternoon 12/07 - 2:00 PM
Tour begins and ends at Los Amigos Books 2207 N Western Ave C2, Chicago, IL 60647 Stops on Route 4: Los Amigos Books (start) Perpetual Books Madison Street Books Volumes Bookcafe Los Amigos Books (end) Route 5 - Saturday Morning 12/13 - 9:30 AM
Tour begins and ends at Da Book Joint 6900 S Stony Island Ave, Chicago, IL 60649 Stops on Route 5: Da Book Joint (start) Love's Sweet Arrow Seminary Co-op Call & Response Books 57th Street Books Da Book Joint (end) |
Route 6 - Saturday Afternoon 12/13 - 2:00 PM
Tour begins and ends at The Book Loft 1047 Lake St, Oak Park, IL 60301 Stops on Route 6: The Book Loft Oak Park (start) The Pile Bookstore New Book Joy - Brookfield Dandelion Bookshop The Book Loft Oak Park (end) Route 7 - Sunday Morning 12/14 - 9:30 AM
Tour begins and ends at Bucket O' Blood 3182 N Elston Ave, Chicago, IL 60618 Stops on Route 7: Bucket O'Blood Books & Records (start) Uncharted Books The Last Chapter Book Shop Goblin Market Lilliput Books Bucket O'Blood Books & Records (end) Route 8 - Sunday Afternoon 12/14 - 2:00 PM
Tour begins and ends at Skunk Cabbage Books 2826 N Milwaukee Ave, Chicago, IL 60618 Stops on Route 8: Skunk Cabbage Books (start) The Understudy Coffee and Books Slant of Light Books City Lit Books Skunk Cabbage Books (end) Route 9 - Saturday Morning 12/20 - 9:30 AM
Tour begins and ends at The Bookstore of Glen Ellyn 475 N Main St, Glen Ellyn, IL 60137 Stops on Route 9: The Bookstore of Glen Ellyn (start) Town House Books & Café Harvey's Tales Bookstore Yellow Bird Books The Bookstore of Glen Ellyn (end) Route 10 - Saturday Afternoon 12/20 - 2:00 PM
Tour begins and ends at Newberry Bookshop 60 W Walton St, Chicago, IL 60610 Stops on Route 10: Newberry Bookshop (start) Pilsen Community Books Sandmeyer's Bookstore Passages Wine and Books Newberry Bookshop (end) |