This Gasparilla weekend, a pirate’s life is not the only fantasy gracing our shores. Saturday afternoon, Bookends Ybor unites with the Corner Club for a fantasy-themed book fair and outdoor market, celebrating National Friends of Fantasy Day in swashbuckling style.
Since 2020, the fantasy genre and its dual-genre half-sister, romantasy, have been on a meteoric rise. Epic tales of daring escapes, victory against all odds, secret magic powers, and star-crossed lovers tap into our collective longing for a better world. And where there be dragons, there often follow another favorite: pirates.
Some fell in love with fantasy through J.M. Barrie’s classic “Peter Pan,” or Robin Hobb’s treasured “Liveship Traders.” Others were drawn in by the ancient gods and curses of the “Pirates of the Caribbean,” or the death-dodging antics of Scott Lynch’s “Gentleman Bastards.” Many adore recent epics like Rebecca Roanhorse’s “Between Earth and Sky,” which explores seafaring legends beyond the European canon.
Bookends brings a wide selection of fantasy books and merch to their event this weekend, nautical and otherwise. Local guest authors include S.R. Bryna, Kadeem Locke and Annie R McEwen. Costumes are highly encouraged; don your pirate gear, or channel your inner sea siren, to continue the day’s festivities.
Live entertainment ranges from tarot readings and typewriter poetry to a visiting bard and sunset harp serenade. Kids, and inner children, will enjoy craft tables, games, trivia and a secret woodland fairy hunt. Special selections of grog and grub will be on offer from the Corner Club.
Check out more bookish events happening Jan. 29-Feb. 14
Friends of Largo Library’s Semi-Annual Book Sale
Thursday-Saturday, Jan. 29-31. No cover. Largo Public Library, Largo. largopubliclibrary.org
Author Talk: ‘The Bottomless Cup,’ Kevin Boehm
Thursday, Jan. 29. 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. $7. Oxford Exchange, Tampa. oxfordexhange.com
Book Release: ‘SHINE: 10th Anniversary Edition’
Thursday, Feb 5. 6:30 p.m. – 9 p.m. No cover (RSVP requested). Tombolo Books, St. Petersburg. tombolobooks.com
Tampa Downtown Alliance: Blind Date With A Book
Monday, Feb 9. 4:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. No cover. Snow Park, Tampa. tampasdowntown.com
Release Party: ‘Wicked Onyx,’ Debbie Cassidy
Tuesday, Feb 10. 6 p.m.-8 p.m. $20. The Book Lounge, St. Petersburg. thebooklounge.com
Book Launch: ‘Cold Zero’, Brad Thor and Ward Larsen
Tuesday, Feb 10. 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. $35. Oxford Exchange, Tampa. oxfordexhange.com
Wild Space Authors Series: ‘The Birds That Audubon Missed’, Kenn Kaufman
Wednesday, Feb 11. 5 p.m.-8 p.m. No cover (RSVP requested). Wild Space Gallery, St. Petersburg. @wildspacestpete on Instagram.
Author Talk: ‘We Were Never Friends’, Kaira Rouda
Wednesday, Feb. 11. 7 p.m.-8 p.m. No cover (RSVP requested). Tombolo Books, St. Petersburg. tombolobooks.com
Author Talk: ‘Our Beautiful Mess’, Adele Parks
Thursday, Feb. 12. 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m. $23. Oxford Exchange, Tampa. oxfordexhange.com
Romance & Rosé, Kristin Wollett & Annabel Monaghan
Friday, Feb. 13 6:30 p.m.-8:30 p.m. $33. Oxford Exchange, Tampa. oxfordexhange.com
Pitch in to help make the Tampa Bay Journalism Project a success.
Subscribe to Creative Loafing newsletters.
Follow us: Google News | NewsBreak | Reddit | Instagram | Facebook | BlueSky
Recent Stories
Bill eliminating insanity defense scrapes through first committee stop
Sarasota U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan leaving Congress after 20 years
6 Tampa Bay music artists to follow in 2026
This article appears in Jan. 22 – 28, 2026.