WonderLab Museum of Science, Health and Technology is no stranger to endless chatter, screams and giggling filling its building every day, with tens of thousands of children and their families visiting the museum each year. But Saturday evening, the cheers came from a new set of visitors as more than 100 adults created arts and crafts, played with Jenga blocks and tested their strength on pulley chairs.
WonderLab hosted its second annual Boozy Book Fair on Saturday. Unlike its usual hours of operation, Saturday’s event was only open to those 21 years old and older, and Upland Brewing Company offered beer for purchase on site.
While last year’s event focused primarily on reading-related activities — such as making bookmarks — Saturday's Boozy Book Fair took a different focus: encouraging attendees to find a new skill or hobby.
“One of our core tenets for educational philosophy is lifelong learning and so that is past childhood, you continue learning into adulthood and throughout,” Jessica McKinney, WonderLab’s senior education manager, said. “This gives an excellent way for our adult community members to do that.”
McKinney invited 13 community organizations to table and share their resources. The groups ranged from arts-based groups to environmental advocacy organizations. She said she hopes the event will encourage “self-sought, lifelong learning.”
Sam Glidewell tabled for Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard during the event. Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard operates a food pantry, community garden and other educational programs. In addition to handing out their organization’s promotional materials, Glidewell encouraged visitors to take “seed bombs” to plant in gardens.
Glidewell said they think it’s important for adults to find hobbies and connections in the community.
“I feel like you can get really lost with what’s around you a lot of the time,” they said. “I feel like getting a bunch of different organizations from the community together in a big event like this is a really fun way for people to learn about different things that are available.”
Megan Bube, a member of the Bloomington Spinners and Weavers Fiber Art Guild, showed visitors how to knit with oversized needles and yarn. She said attending events like Boozy Book Fair allows her to promote the guild’s workshops, classes and Fiber Arts Gallery, which is located in College Mall.
“You have artists from all ages that are interested in doing fiber arts, and it really does bring that sense of community together,” Bube said. “We like to come to these sorts of events so we can promote that and the therapeutic side of fiber arts, as well.”
Bube said she would tell other adults looking for new hobbies to start by reaching out to organizations in their community.
“What is it that you’re interested in? What about it, then, draws you to it?” she said. “And then go from there and build your skill set.”
Although much of the Boozy Book Fair’s focus was on community involvement and hobbies, many attendees were drawn by their love of reading. WonderLab partnered with Morgenstern Books & Café to set up a pop-store with dozens of books on the museum’s second level.
“Just like how you had a Scholastic bookstore happening throughout elementary school, that is what we’re doing today for adults,” McKinney said.
That love for reading is what brought Jenna Marquand to Saturday’s event. Being at WonderLab took her “back to being a kid,” she said.
Marquand discovered her love for reading in August 2024. Though she doesn’t remember the specific book she picked up, it sparked her love for the hobby, and she’s been an avid reader since.
“It’s fun to do and kind of an escape (from) reality for a little bit,” she said.
Marquand convinced her two friends, Jillian Smith and Brionna Shields, to accompany her to the event. Though Smith admitted she’s not a reader, she thinks the Boozy Book Fair’s goal of helping visitors find new hobbies is important because “being an adult is depressing.”
“Find something that makes you happy,” Shields said.
Many of the community organizations guided visitors through activities. CanopyBloomington taught people to make prints out of leaves, and the Bloomington Fine Art Supply taught them to use alcohol-based paints. WonderLab also invited visitors to participate in a sensory scene writing workshop.
WonderLab plans to host more events this year targeted at adults in Bloomington, including its “After Hours: Chocolate” event, which takes place in February and allows visitors 21 years old or older to try chocolate and alcohol pairings.
“The ultimate goal is for anyone who comes in the door to think that the event was worth their time, and that they had a fun time,” McKinney said.
