The 2025 Holiday Bookstore Trolley
For the 2025 holiday season, CHIBA — the Chicagoland Independent Bookstore Alliance — brought together 43 indie bookstores across the city and suburbs for an extra special holiday shopping experience: the Chicagoland Holiday Bookstore Trolley! Book lovers donned their favorite holiday sweaters, shopped local, and showed our indie bookstores the holiday season LOVE!
Participants chose from 10+ different routes, and each route had stops at 4-5 bookstores. Each route had a unique starting location (in Chicago and Surrounding Suburbs) and a unique duration.
Participants chose from 10+ different routes, and each route had stops at 4-5 bookstores. Each route had a unique starting location (in Chicago and Surrounding Suburbs) and a unique duration.
Event Highlights
- Trolley Ride: Participants traveled to 4-5 participating independent bookstores on a fun and festive trolley. Each trolley had a unique host aboard to guide the experience.
- Holiday Swag: Each ticket included Chicagoland Holiday Bookstore Trolley swag. 😎
- Holiday Shopping: Participants spent time in each bookstore browsing shelves of handpicked reads, unique gifts, and seasonal surprises.