Hello book lovers!
February is here, and with it comes a month full of cozy vibes, community, and a little extra love. Whether you’re looking for the perfect Valentine’s gift, a reason to gather with friends, or just a good book to curl up with on a chilly afternoon, we’ve got something for you. This month, The Lit Wagon is hitting markets, breweries, and special pop-ups, bringing books, bookish merch, Blind Dates & all the little joys that make winter feel a little warmer. From festive Valentine’s-themed markets to a fun, friends-only Galentine’s night, there’s plenty of ways to sip, shop, and celebrate with books and your favorite people.
Scroll down to see where you can find us this month — we can’t wait to share books, brews, and a little extra love with you!
A Bookish Galentine’s Day
Join The Lit Wagon at Sketchbook Brewing Skokie for a cozy, book-loving Galentine’s celebration full of stories, friendship, and a little creative magic.
🗓 Friday, February 13th
⏰ 6–9 PM
📍 Sketchbook Brewing Skokie, 4901 Main St., Skokie
✨ Your $25 ticket includes:
• One Blind Date With a Book
• One Sketchbook beverage
• Diamond art corner bookmark craft
• Access to The Lit Wagon mobile bookshop
• A warm, welcoming space to celebrate friendship
• ✨ Plus tarot readings with The Emerald Acorn ✨
Newsletter Perk Just for You: Because you’re on our What’s On Tap list, you can take 10% off your purchase with code: NEWSLETTER
Click here to secure your spot. Grab your besties, treat yourself to a new read, and celebrate Galentine’s the bookish way. We can’t wait to see you there.
Crafted by Cupid Maker’s Market - February 1, 11AM-4PM
Married or single, date day or a chance to mingle, rolling deep with your gals, bringing the crew, or flying solo by choice—there’s something for everyone at the 2nd annual Crafted by Cupid Market Gala! ✨
We’re taking over the spacious Lyons Room and part of the grand ballroom at Itasca Country Club, turning them into a cozy, curated shopping haven. Over 40 local makers and small businesses will be there, featuring everything from seasonal decor and houseplants to jewelry, woodworking, bath & body, sweets, art, AND your favorite local mobile book dealer!
Sip a specialty cocktail, grab a bite from a food pop-up, and enjoy live music while you shop.
🗓 When: Sunday, 2/1/26
⏰ Time: 11am–4pm
📍 Where: 400 E. Orchard St., Itasca
✨ Entry: Free and family-friendly
Come for the shopping, stay for the vibes—this one’s made for YOU!
Love Brewed Maker’s Market - February 15, 11AM-4PM
We’re celebrating Valentine’s Day weekend with nothing but LOVE on tap!
Come hang at The Warehouse On North — 20+ local makers bringing all the heart-eyes energy with handmade and curated goods, plus Obscurity Brewing pouring all your favorite drinks and serving up delicious eats. If you weren’t smitten already, you will be!
No partner? No problem. This market is for lovers, friends, singles, situationships, self-love enthusiasts, and everyone in between. Cozy up inside the warehouse to shop while sipping from the full bar and browse our carefully curated selection of February reads, celebrating Black History Month, love in all forms & kids’ books. Afterward, take a stroll next door to Obscurity Brewing to refuel.
Because the real romance is… shopping small and local.
🗓 Sunday, February 15th, 2026
🕒 11AM–4PM
📍 The Warehouse On North | 217 W. North St., Elburn
✨ Free entry, family-friendly, & pet-friendly
Skokie’s Winter Market on Main
Join us on Sundays, February 1st & February 22nd for the Winter Market on Main! This indoor/outdoor market is located at 4051 Main Street, Skokie, and in front of Soul Good Coffee at 4022 Main St., Skokie, and will run twice a month on Sundays from January through April from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm. rain or shine!
Future Dates: March 15 & 29, April 12 & 26
Back by popular demand - SMORES! Starting at 10:00 am, enjoy a s’more by the fire pit. While supplies last.
Street parking is available. The Skokie Farmers' Market is B.Y.O.B - bring your own BAG! Reduce your carbon footprint. Reduce the use of plastic.
Charity of the Month: American Heart Association
For February, The Lit Wagon is proud to support The American Heart Association, an organization dedicated to fighting heart disease, promoting heart-healthy living, and supporting lifesaving research.
Valentine’s Day is all about love, and what better way to celebrate than by sharing it beyond just your bookshelf? By shopping at our February pop-ups and markets, you’re helping support the AHA’s programs, which fund critical research, education, and community outreach to improve heart health across the country.
Whether you’re picking up a gift for a loved one, a treat for yourself, or just browsing for something special, you can feel good knowing part of your purchase is going toward a cause that helps save lives.
Next on Tap:
Come for the books, stay for the plants, sip a brew, and soak in the early-spring energy
🗓 Date: Sunday, March 1, 2026
⏰ Time: 12–4 PM
📍 Location: Midwest Coast Brewing – Upstairs Event Space 2137 W Walnut St. Chicago
March 1 - Books, Beers & Blooms with The Lit Wagon + Westtown Flowergirl
Spring is just around the corner, and we’re bringing a little early-spring sunshine indoors! Join us on Sunday, March 1, at Midwest Coast Brewing’s upstairs event space for a relaxed, light-filled pop-up featuring books, plants, and all the cozy vibes.
Browse carefully curated books from The Lit Wagon while shopping for leafy green plants, small floral arrangements, and gifts from Westtown Flowergirl. Sip on craft beer, cocktails, or other drink options while you explore — this is your chance to enjoy a Sunday well spent, surrounded by natural light, greenery, and good company.
Whether you’re a plant parent, a bookworm, or just love a chill Sunday outing, this event is for you!
IT’S NOT HER - MARY KUBICA
One lucky reader can grab a signed copy of this brand new book at any of our February events!
Mary Kubica's next book, a psychological thriller scheduled for release on February 3, 2026, centers around a family vacation that turns deadly, involving murdered relatives and a missing niece. Inspired by the true crime of the Keddie Cabin Murders, the story features twists and hidden family secrets.
Key Details:
Title: It's Not Her
Release Date: February 3, 2026
Genre: Psychological Thriller
Synopsis: During a lakeside getaway, Courtney's brother and sister-in-law are found murdered, and her niece disappears, forcing her to uncover dark family secrets.
Inspiration: The real-life Keddie cabin murders.
What I’m adding to my TBR this month:
Enough - Oprah Winfrey
A timely read as we move past the first month of the year and the shine of New Year’s resolutions starts to wear off. Enough is less about striving for more and more about untangling the quiet belief that we’re never quite doing or being enough. Oprah reflects on ambition, identity, and self-worth in a way that feels especially relevant right now — when expectations are high, energy is low, and many of us are already renegotiating our goals. This one invites a gentler reset: less pressure, more honesty.
How to Kill a Guy in Ten Dates - Shailee Thompson
A horror-romance novel about Jamie Prescott, a cinephile and graduate student who goes to a speed-dating event with her best friend only to have one of the men murdered during a blackout. Trapped inside the venue with a killer on the loose, Jamie uses her deep knowledge of horror and rom-com tropes to help the remaining singles survive. Along the way, there’s suspense, bloody encounters with the murderer, and even a developing romance despite the danger.
Books don’t fix terrorizing systems — but they help us survive them without losing ourselves. Care is political. Humanity is non-negotiable.
Read well. Protect people. Fuck ICE.