September 22nd is Hobbit Day! Celebrate Bilbo’s birthday and the 75th anniversary of the publication of The Hobbit with us. On Twitter, use #hobbitday to follow the celebration and post your own events, birthday toasts, and favorite Bilbo moments.
We have multiple resources to help you host your own celebration. Scroll down, too, for a list of Hobbit Day events happening around the country. To have your listing, ideas or event photos included, please email ReadTheHobbit@gmail.com.
Event Ideas
• Throw Bilbo a birthday party, complete with cake, balloons and games. For games, we've come up with a scavenger hunt to play in bookstores or libraries, and our version of Pin the Tail on the Donkey, Pin the Ring on Bilbo!
• Interested in a hobbit feast? Download our menu ideas and recipes.
• Have a Hobbit trivia night; download The Hobbit trivia questions
• Host a marathon reading of The Hobbit
• Whatever you plan, you'll need nametags for your guests. Why not have them write their names in Dwarven runes?
Here are more resources to use in your store, classroom, book group, or at home:
- The Hobbit reader's guide
- The Hobbit teacher's guide
- The Hobbit reference guide
- The Hobbit trivia questions
ONLINE
On September 22, visit www.hobbitday.com, where the Middle Earth Network will be hosting a massive virtual festival, featuring a lecture and celebration with Dr. Corey Olsen (author of
Exploring J.R.R. Tolkien's The Hobbit ), Tolkien artist Ted Nasmith’s special new website launch party, Tolkien Society Today podcast launch, Hobbit readings by celebrities and personalities, live music and gaming events, and much more.
CALIFORNIA
Books Inc., Opera Plaza, San Francisco, Sept 22, 7:00 pm
Books Inc., Alameda, Sept 22, 7:00 pm
TheOneRing.net’s Annual Baggins Birthday Bash, Sept 22, 12:00 pm
COLORADO
The Grey Havens Group, Dickens Tavern & Opera House, Longmont, Sept 22, 3:00 – 6:00 pm
FLORIDA
Books & Books, Coral Gables, Sept 22, time tk
ILLINOIS
Anderson's Bookshop, Naperville, Sept 22, 2:00 pm
Anderson's Bookshop, Downers Grove, Sept 22, 2:00 pm
MARYLAND
Novel Places, Clarksburg, September 21
MASSACHUSETTS
Storybook Cove, Hanover, Sept 22, 2:00 pm
MINNESOTA
Common Good Books, Saint Paul, Sept 22, 3:30 - 4:30 pm
MISSOURI
Springfield-Greene County Library System, Sept 22
Hobbit Day celebrations at all four branches – click through for details. Plus, the Tolkien Festival continues through December.
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Gibsons, Concord, Sept 22, 11:00 am
NEW JERSEY
Booktrader of Hamilton, Hamilton, 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
NEW MEXICO
Bookworks, Albuquerque, Sept 22, 10:30 am
Page One, Albuquerque, Sept 22, time tk
NEW YORK
Bindings Bookstore, Albion, Sept 22, 10:00 am - 4:00 pm
NORTH CAROLINA
Malaprop's, Asheville, Sept 22, 3:00 pm
OHIO
Yottaquest, Cincinnati, Sept 22, 10:00 am
OREGON
Annie Bloom's, Portland, Sept 23, 2:00 pm
PENNSYLVANIA
Whistlestop Bookshop, Carlisle, Sept 21 and Sept 22
TEXAS
BookPeople, Austin, Sept 21, 7:00 pm
The Storybook Garden, Weslaco, Sept 22, 3:00 pm
VERMONT
Phoenix Books, Essex, Sept 22, 7:00 pm
Email ReadTheHobbit@gmail.com to submit photos or stories from your Hobbit Day event!
The Hobbit display at Malaprops
Phoenix Books is ready for their Hobbit Day event!
Phoenix Books is ready for their Hobbit Day event!
