After much contemplation and discussion, the Book Fair Foundation, Inc. has opted to cancel their Book Fair for November 2020. This is the first year in 50 that there will not be an enormous Book Fair in Ohio, the second weekend in November.
Executive Director Larkin Vonalt posted the follow on the Dayton Book Fair Facebook page today:
“Please do not be too hard on us, we are heartbroken.
Donations are down due to the pandemic, and our volunteer ranks have been decimated by the loss of a great many helpful people who are simply too high-risk to come out. We could not figure out how to even manage social distancing, upholding mask protocols, and whatever other mandates the state may have bestowed by then. In addition, it is hard to know what the country is going to look like the week after the election.
The beneficiaries we chose for 2020— Community Voices at WYSO, the Dayton International Peace Museum, and X/ACT (Xenia Area Community Theatre) will be our beneficiaries for 2021.
We will still celebrate our 50th anniversary next year, featuring Harriet Beecher Stowe. Mark your calendars now for Friday, November 12, 2021, through Monday, November 15, 2021.
Donations are still being accepted at our 2181 Embury Park Road facility and at barrel and drop off points around the community.
We are ever more in need of volunteers to process and price books; if you love books and have some spare time, please come see us. Our offices remain open on Embury Park: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 10 am to 3 pm and Wednesday from 1 pm until 7 pm.”
