Massive Fantasy Game Celebration Slated In West Hartford Saturday

Town of West Hartford

WEST HARTFORD, CT — One of the town's fastest-growing annual summer traditions will take visitors on a journey to worlds of fantasy and wonder this Saturday.

"BookWyrm Fest," West Hartford’s annual celebration of all things adventure, fantasy, board games, live action role-playing, and tabletop role-playing games, is returning for its third year.

The event will be held on Saturday, July 26, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Noah Webster Library, located at 20 S. Main St., West Hartford Center.

Last year’s festival saw more than 1,200 attendees of all ages get in on the action and the West Hartford Public Library expects another large turnout this year.

Those who do attend will enjoy more dice-rolling, shopping, food, crafts, and face painting.

Activities will also include:

• Medieval weapon demonstrations by Laurel City Historical Fencing

• Family-friendly live-action roleplaying with Torch Tales

• Drop-in tabletop games and one-shots with Tabletop Gaming Center

Participants are encouraged to dress in their finest wizard robes, jerkins, and crowns, and to bring a sense of adventure and play.

“BookWyrm Fest represents everything we strive for at WHPL,” said Leah Farrell, the programs, publicity, and outreach librarian at West Hartford Public Library. “It is joyful, inclusive, and responds to the interests and needs of the community.”

BookWyrm Fest was started by West Hartford Teen Librarian Kari Karp, who came up with the idea in what she describes as a “lightning strike moment” in 2022.

Since then, this idea has grown into a library-wide effort planned and coordinated by staff from all WHPL departments.

The event is made possible by the West Hartford Library Foundation through the Thomas F. Kilfoil Memorial Bequest.

Community partners include Kilwins West Hartford and Whole Foods Market.

For more information on the 2025 Bookwyrm Fest, click on this link.