The New Bookstock Is Here, And With a Poet for Hire

May 16-18, 2025

It’s leaner. The current website lists fewer author and poet events than in previous years, along with several workshops, and a few panelists. The new Bookstock may be different, but it remains the area’s renowned Festival of Words, much anticipated in its new incarnation.

And of course it still has the mother of all used book sales under the tent on the Woodstock Green, with a new “Off the Beaten Path” section that includes “Beautiful Books” like art and coffee table books, and “Wild About Westerns” —with 40 Louis L’Amour hardcovers and many Zane Grey selections. With the usual tables of hardcovers and paperbacks and children’s books and great prices, you’ll walk away happily lugging multiple filled bags for your summer reading and beyond, not to mention holiday gifts for loved ones if you are able to think that far ahead.

May 16: 4:30 – 6:30 | Artistree

UNBOUND Book Art Exhibit – This unique exhibition showcases artworks inspired by, made from, or exploring the concept of books. The Gallery curators will be on hand to answer questions.

Poets! As part of the festival’s opening at Artistree in Pomfret, Vermont on Friday, May 16 (just outside of Woodstock), Nigerian poet Bimpé Fageyinbo will read his poetry. Former U.S. Poet Laureate Robert Pinsky will perform on Saturday, May 17. There’s even a Poet for Hire on the Woodstock Green throughout much of the festival:

Ben Aleshire, a Vermonter by birth, travels the world with his Olivetti typewriter as the ‘Poet for Hire’ and composes poems to order for strangers. He’s appeared in New Orleans, Paris, Barcelona, Havana, London, and San Francisco — and at festivals, private events, weddings, and conferences. He’s won awards for his poetry and other creative projects. He’ll join us on The Green where he’ll compose a custom poem for you!

Registration is required for all events and workshops and tickets can be obtained on the website. Many events are free; workshops usually are fee only.

Too much information to cover in a single Artful post! Clearly the only way to see the breadth and details (there’s music, too, and a kids’ tent on the Green, and more) concerning this year’s Bookstock is to head to the website and browse. You’ll also find a guide to Eating, Shopping, and Staying in Woodstock so you can make a day of it, or an entire weekend.

(Photos courtesy of Bookstock)

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And in case you are wondering . . . Susan B. Apel shuttered a lifelong career as a law professor to continue an interest (since kindergarten) in writing. Her freelance business, The Next Word, includes literary and feature writing; her work has appeared in a variety of lit mags and other publications including Art New England, The Woven Tale Press, The Arts Fuse, and Persimmon Tree. She connects with her neighbors through Artful, her blog about arts and culture in the Upper Valley. She’s in love with the written word.