A boozy book fair is coming to Chicago this summer

Get ready for a dose of grade school nostalgia this summer, Chicago. Bucket Listers, the experiential media brand, is resurrecting the beloved school book fair, but with a decidedly adult twist.

If you remember the excitement of school book fair day, you already know the feeling. The crisp morning air, a few dollars tucked into your pocket and the promise of new stories waiting on those rolling metal shelves. Bucket Listers is channeling that same thrill, reimagined for adults. The Boozy Book Fair is popping up in cities around the country, and Chicago is on the list.

The tone is set right from the start, as you'll grab a scantron sheet and selecting a welcome drink from a menu of crafted cocktails, wine, beer and mocktails, like the aptly named "Where The Sidecar Ends" or "Baby Sitters Club Soda." Then browse shelves stocked with everything from cult classics and banned books to quirky gifts, bookmarks and nostalgic merch. Each ticket also includes a small credit to spend on those irresistible extras, like wiggly pencils and throwback knickknacks.

Planned specialty activities are guaranteed to unleash your inner child—or at least make you laugh—including competitive Drunk Spelling Bees, themed Lecture Nights, and the "Read The Wine Print Book Club" every Wednesday. Interactive moments abound, with life-sized photo backdrops, including oversized "Hang In There" posters and Lisa Frank-esque installations, as well as I-Spy and Stereogram walls.

Another unique feature is the Secret Book Exchange: attendees are encouraged to bring any previously owned chapter book from their personal library (all genres welcome) to exchange for a secretly wrapped, surprise title.

The Boozy Book Fair is part bookstore, part social event and part throwback to simpler times. Here's your chance to step back into that world, but with better drinks and no homework waiting at the end. Sign up for the waitlist now to be notified when tickets and more info is available.