Bound to Happen Books to celebrate anniversary with downtown block party

By Patrick Lynn

STEVENS POINT — Bound to Happen Books is inviting the community to celebrate five years in downtown Stevens Point with a daylong block party featuring Wisconsin authors, local artists, live music and family-friendly activities.

The celebration will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, outside the independent bookstore at 1008 Main St.

The event will feature authors from across Wisconsin, local vendors and makers, live music, giveaways and activities for all ages as the bookstore marks its fifth anniversary.

Since opening in 2021, Bound to Happen Books has grown from three bookshelves in a shared space with Process General Store to a two-level bookstore with more than 17,500 books and a staff of 10 booksellers.

Owner Lyn Ciurro said the anniversary celebration is both a thank-you to the community and a chance to look ahead.

“Sometimes it feels like we’ve been here forever, other times it feels like we just opened last week,” Ciurro said. “The support we’ve received from the Central Wisconsin community has been an immense honor, and we hope to continue to meet the strong expectations we’ve set. The future isn’t always very clear, especially in the big 2026, but if the next five years are anything like the last then I can’t be anything but grateful.”

The event also marks the conclusion of the 2026 Find Waldo Local program, an annual independent bookstore promotion that encourages residents to visit participating local businesses in search of the storybook character.

Visitors can take part in Waldo-themed activities, enjoy Waldo-themed cookies from Zest Bakery and Coffeehouse, and enter giveaways featuring prizes from the 25 participating businesses.