Local book fans organize Zoo City Book Festival

ASHEBORO — Stephanie Armfield and Nathanael Wright believe it’s time for Asheboro to celebrate books. For that reason, they’re organizing the inaugural Zoo City Book Festival, set for next fall.

Wright is a local author and Armfield owns The Traveling Scroll, a van that carries books all over Randolph County and the Piedmont.

“In May, she was parked at a coffee shop in Liberty and I was promoting my work,” Wright said recently in an interview. When the two met, they talked about how “Randolph County needs a good book festival where people can get books, food and fellowship.”

Wright and Armfield noted that the nearest book festivals are in Charlotte and Raleigh. “We felt like Randolph County deserved a place for readers to go. We developed plans from there.”

They sent out interest forms on social media asking readers what kinds of genres they wanted, how far they would travel, if they would volunteer or otherwise participate, among other questions.

Soon they had 400 people signed up in some form or another.

Their festival plan to date has 30 authors, one or two food trucks, 8 to 10 vendors offering book-related crafts and memorabilia. The Zoo City Book Festival will likely have raffles if enough businesses agree to offer prizes.

And Armfield will have her Traveling Scroll on site, loaded with books, tote bags, bookmarks and stickers.

The Zoo City Book Festival will be in Asheboro but the venue is yet to be ironed out.

The tentative date is sometime in September 2027.

Armfield and Wright chose to get the word out early to “drum up interest” with plans to “stay on top of it and keep pushing it,” Armfield said. “We want to let people know it’ll be a safe place for them. Also, to attract sponsors. If it goes well, we’ll do it every year. And if it goes well with adults, we’ll think about what to do to get the interest of kids.”

Armfield said her three children all love books and her husband drives The Traveling Scroll van. Wright’s books include “The Church of No Return” about how extremism in religion turns

people away and “The Buzzards We Follow” that shows what happens when you run from your problems.

As for the book festival, Armfield said, “I think there’s interest here and a need for it.”

Wright added, “We’re hoping to get local authors involved. We have some signed up. We want it to be a community event that brings people together of like minds. There’s a lot of talent in this town and could use something like this” to promote their books.

Wright said through this kind of event, “I’ve made connections and friends.”

He said in an email to the Randolph Hub, “The festival is being created to bring authors, readers, independent vendors, food trucks, and members of the

community together for a celebration of books and storytelling. Our goal is to build an event that highlights local and regional talent while encouraging literacy, supporting small businesses, and bringing new visitors into Asheboro.

“We are currently gathering interest from authors and vendors while seeking businesses and community organizations interested in becoming sponsors. Sponsorship support will help cover essential expenses such as facility rental, advertising, banners, event materials, and other costs necessary to establish the festival and allow it to continue annually.”

More details about the 2027 Zoo City Book Festival will be released as they become available.