Authors, Activities Abound At 9th Annual Books In Bloom Event

COLUMBIA, MD — Book lovers will have the chance to meet renowned authors and enjoy an array of activities during the 9th Annual Books in Bloom event May 10 at Color Burst Park in downtown Columbia.

This year’s event will feature such activities as:

• the Reading Garden with family-friendly crafts and activities, face painting and glitter tattoos with DIY bookmarks, gratitude journals and playhouses

• Wine and cocktail bars hosted by Cured, 18th & 21st and GameOn
• Snacks and lunch with food available for sale from local restaurateurs
• Floral photo booth where attendees can create bookmarks
• An outdoor bookstore hosted by Busboys & Poets
• A flower shop hosted by Calluna Flower truck where the first 70 guests who show a receipt for $75+ from an onsite retailer or restaurant receive a complimentary bouquet
• A community book swap where participants can bring a pre-loved book to plant in the community book garden and pick a book to take home with them. Free to plant/pick book(s).
• Enjoy immersive photo ops and interactives

The meet and greet with renowned authors will include chats with:

• Kwame Alexander – Why Fathers Cry at Night
• Eric Puchner – Dream State
• Laurie Frankel – Family Family
• Andy Shallal – A Seat at the Table
• Sue Fliess – So Many Books!
• Ann Marie Stephens – So Many Books!
• E. Ethelbert Miller
• Howard County Poet Laureate Truth Thomas
• Maryland Poet Laureate Lady Brion

There also will be giveaways of a signature ‘Wellness in Bloom’ writing journal crafted to help people focus on their wellness through writing for the first 200 guests, as well as a copy of Eric Puchner's Dream State - an Oprah Book Club featured publication - for the first 50 people to check in at the tent for his session. Local merchants and vendors will have booths on site, too.