Celebrate Fantasy, Gaming At West Hartford Library This Weekend

WEST HARTFORD, CT — Fantasy fans, tabletop gamers and families are invited to the Noah Webster Library on Saturday, July 25, as BookWyrm Fest returns for its third year.

The free event runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the library, 20 S. Main St., celebrating fantasy literature, tabletop role-playing games, board games and live-action role-playing.

Organizers say the festival will feature activities for all ages, including discussion panels, vendors, live entertainment, crafts, face painting and food.

Costumes inspired by Renaissance fairs, fantasy worlds and cosplay are encouraged, though not required.

Among the featured attractions are:

• Dragon Hunters Academy with Torch Tales, a family-friendly live-action role-playing experience.
• Fight the Knight, where participants can learn sword techniques from a real knight.
• Medieval combat demonstrations.
• Drop-in tabletop role-playing games and one-shot adventures.
• Character creation sessions hosted by the Tabletop Gaming Center.
• A Random Hero Generator activity.
• A board game swap.
• Face painting, balloon art, and children's crafts.
• Crafts for teens and adults presented by Castle Nitor.
• Live music by Bardy Pardy.
• Community Creature Creation.
• A "Sword Petting Zoo."
• Button-making.

Visitors are encouraged to bring board games they would like to donate to the game swap, reusable water bottles, and bags for purchases from vendors.

Dice will be available for gaming sessions, though attendees may bring their own.

Free parking is available in the Isham Garage. Visitors should not pay at the garage; instead, they can have their parking validated by providing their license plate number at any library service desk.

The library asks attendees bringing strollers to park them in the Lower Level Children's Room when not in use.

Foam, wood, and plastic costume props are permitted as long as they are clearly non-functional and do not pose a safety hazard.

BookWyrm Fest

• When: Saturday, July 25, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Where: Noah Webster Library, 20 S. Main St., West Hartford
• Admission: Free
• Who: All ages welcome; costumes encouraged but not required.

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