The Green Valley Book Fair has long been one of our favorite stops on the I-81 corridor. Due to its seasonal operating schedule, we haven’t always been able to get there when it’s open. If we’re lucky, the dates we’re passing by and the dates it’s open only line up about once a year.
Now the Green Valley Book Fair has ditched the seasonal schedule and is open indefinitely! While this decision seems to be COVID-related and will likely change when restrictions lift, we’re happy to take advantage of it… and to have something good come out of this pandemic.
Finding the Green Valley Book Fair
I first heard about the fair from a fellow book lover. I could lose a few hours in a bookstore, let alone a discount book warehouse. And that name, Book Fair… it evoked so much nostalgia for grade school and learning to love reading.
I knew I had to go and I had to take my kids!
While it’s not too far off of the interstate, the fair is quite removed from other area businesses. Just when I started to feel like my GPS had misled me, I saw the signage.
Our Visit
The Book Fair isn’t a single store or even a single building. Rather, it’s multiple interconnected buildings and a pavilion, crafted together in various ways. There are walkways (also lined with books), staircases, multiple entrances and exits, plus a few different places to check out.
In fact, when we were shopping, we missed an entire floor of one of the buildings and had to go back in after we checked out!
The website states that the complex is over 25,000 square feet, which makes me feel less silly about missing the basement wing.
The complex houses teaching supplies and overstock oddities. In addition, there are over half a million books on the shelves!
The books cover all topics, of course, but I was pleased to find a very robust crafting section with several knitting and crochet pattern books.
I think it’s worth planning a trip to scenic Mount Crawford, Virginia just for the books.
We definitely had our hands full when we left! We purchased four children’s books, one young adult novel, a hardback novel, an interactive children’s book, an activity book, a crafting manual, a stuffed animal, a matching headband and bandana set, a cupcake-shaped charm necklace, a dozen mechanical pencils with Halloween designs, and a bookmark. All of this was under $35.00!
While I was pleased that everyone found something to love, I appreciated that all of my kids were occupied for the rest of our trip. It was a breeze with all three of their little noses tucked into new books!
Plan Your Visit
Green Valley Book Fair
2192 Green Valley Lane
Mount Crawford, Virginia 22841
website
