Washburn Get Lit Literature Festival

Who’s Ready for the 2nd Annual Get Lit – Literature Festival?

It’s official! The second annual Washburn Get Lit Literature Festival is coming your way April 11th and 12th. This two-day event promises fun for all ages, with activities including author readings, book signings, an adult book fair and more. We’re thrilled to announce that Wendy Webb, bestselling, award-winning author of eight novels of gothic suspense, including Daughters of the Lake, will be our headlining author. Don’t miss this exciting opportunity to immerse yourself in the world of literature and support the Washburn Public Library.

If you would like to have a spot at the Adult Book Fair, would like to sponsor the event or if you are an author, poet, writer or teacher and would like to participate in some way please call or message Melissa at the Chamber 715-373-5017.

Last years schedule of events and specials can be found below. The 2025 schedule will be available in early March.

2025 Literature Festival Specials

AdventureUs – Did you know the they had books at AdventureUs? They do, and they will be having a special on books for the Literature Festival. On April 11th and 12th save 20% on books they have in stock. Stop in and check out what they have.

Kiddiwink Kids – Shop in store for 20% off books and crayon book sets.

North Coast Coffee – For one week only belly up to the bar for a Butterbeer Float! It’s our muggle twist on the butterscotch-flavored drink enjoyed by Harry Potter and wizards everywhere. Indulgently made with vanilla ice cream and cream soda and topped with whipped cream and butterscotch sauce. It’s sure to transport you to the wizarding world of Harry Potter! If you find yourself dreaming of Prince Edward Island more than Hogwarts, we got you covered! Step into Anne of Green Gables with our take on Anne Shirleys Raspberry Cordial. Made with a from scratch raspberry lemon syrup and club soda it’s sure to delight you just like the friendship between Anne and Diana. Don’t worry, unlike Diana Barry you won’t be getting tipsy off this thirst quencher!

Week Long Activities

Book Walk Along the Lake Walk

Starting Monday April 8th, take a stroll along the Historic Lake Walk in Washubrn and enjoy a story along the way. The book walk will be available through the end of the Literature Festival. Brought to you by the Washburn Public Library.

Friday, April 11th, 2025

Write This Way

10am – 1pm at the Washburn Cultural Center

Write this way is a gentle, fun, and encouraging class-workshop focused on how to start writing and keep writing. Both prompt and craft-driven, Write this Way explores “the big how” of the art of writing. Open to writers in all genres and at all levels, Parker will leverage gentle encouragement, humor, and time-tested strategies drawn from her years of teaching and learning writing. Please register for the workshop HERE. This is a FREE event that is open to all. Join us, and let’s dig in!

Nature Journal Workshop

2pm – 3pm at the pavilion at Thompson’s West End Park

Join the Superior Rivers Watershed Association’s Education Coordinator Emma Holtan to learn how to connect writing with nature through nature journaling! Emma will teach participants about the importance of and ways you can enjoy nature through the written word, leading the group through one or two different prompts to connect you to the land and water around you.

Bring a notebook and writing instrument, and come dressed for inclement weather; we’ll plan to use that experience and connection to the elements to fuel our writing! Register at www.superiorrivers.org/events.

Friday Night Book Swap

5pm – 7pm at The Club

Do you have books sitting around the house that you read but don’t plan on reading again? Looking for something new or different but want to save some money? If so, then this event is for you! During the week of April 7th drop off any new or gently used books to the chamber office for the Friday Night Book Swap. You will get a ticket for each book you bring in that can be used during the event on the evening of April 11th. You will be able to choose one book for every ticket you have. Any books left over that evening will be used to fill the local free little libraries. Children’s books are also welcome! You will get a different color ticket for swapping kids books.

How it works –

1. Bring in your new or gently used books to the chamber office. We will take down your name and keep track of how many books you brought in.
2. Show up at The Washburn Club in Washburn on Friday, April 11th between 5pm and 7pm. There will be an envelope with your name on it and inside will be tickets that you will use to claim your new to you books.
3. Shop around and pick out the books you want. Bring them to check out and pay with your tickets. You do not need to redeem all your tickets.
4. Any books left at the end of the night will be used to fill the free little libraries in town.

Although we would love for you to bring in your books early so we can sort them and have them all set up before the event on Friday night you can come that night and bring books to swap. You will just check in and we will hand you tickets at that time.

*New this year– Don’t have any books to swap? No problem, tickets will be available for purchase at the chamber office and on the night of the event. Each ticket is $5 and proceeds will go to the Washburn Public Library.

Adult Book Fair

6pm – 9pm at The Club

Join us for the Get Lit Adult Book Fair, where you can indulge your inner bookworm and relive the excitement of book fairs from your childhood! Get ready to immerse yourself in a world of literary wonders, where every corner holds treasures for bibliophiles of all ages.

The Get Lit Adult Book Fair isn’t just about indulging your literary cravings; it’s also a chance to give back to the community. This event serves as a fundraiser for the Washburn Public Library, supporting its mission to promote literacy and lifelong learning. With every purchase of a VIP ticket ($30), you’re helping to ensure that the magic of books continues to thrive in our community. There will be raffles, door prizes, 50/50 and more.

This event is free and open to the public. VIP Tickets are available at the Washburn Area Chamber of Commerce office.

Vendors Include:

• Chequamegon Books
• Little Bay Books
• Anastiasa Ink
• Author Jeff Krogstad
• 5th & Fifth
• Natural Medicines
• Washburn Public Library
• and More!

*If you are interested in being a vendor please contact Nicole at the Chamber office. Space is limited and vendors must have a book theme to their products.

Book Bash

9:30am – 12:00pm at Washburn Public Library
If you have kids or grand-kids, you will not want to miss the 2nd Annual Book Bash! Kiddiwink Kids is putting on quite the show. There will be read alouds and book signings by local authors, crafts, sensory activities and a book fair all in the basement of the Washburn Public Library from 9:30am – 12:00pm. 20% of the proceeds from the children’s book fair will go to the library! This FREE celebration of reading and creativity will be fun for the whole family. Schedule of authors will be available closer to the event.

Reiki & Reading

10:30am – 11:45pm Washburn Meditation Center

Jess Provost and Heather Hudak invite you to soothe your spirit and relax into reading at Reiki & Reading! Jess will introduce reiki and lead a brief meditation. Then, you can read, write, or sit at your leisure as Jess walks the room to work with people individually. To respect your space, each participant will have a yes/no sign to indicate if they are open to individual work. Jess and Heather are both local residents. Jess is a reiki practitioner and Heather is the owner of Little Bay Books, soon to open in Ashland, WI. Tea will be provided. Event is free, but a $5 donation is suggested to cover the cost of space rental.