1st Annual
DOLLY DAY
Friday, September 25
Johnson's Literary Depot · 333 E. Main St
Workin' 9 to 5 on 9/25 — then stickin' around for the contest at 7.
What’s Happening
Dolly Parton has done a lot of things. Somewhere on that list, near the top, is putting over 300 million free books in the hands of kids who wouldn't otherwise have them. That's our whole thing too.
So on 9/25, nine to five, because we couldn't not, we're throwing the first annual Dolly Day. One day, one store, a lot of rhinestones. Storytime in the morning, a Read-In all afternoon, and after five o'clock we turn it into a party.
It's free. It's for everybody. Come as you are, or come as Dolly.
The Day · 9 to 5
9:30am - Special Kids Storytime Big books, big hair, big voices. Best for ages 0–8. Come in your Dolly gear.
All Day - Book Drive for Kids Read for Free Bring a gently used kids' book, take a little something from us. Since May 2025, Kids Read for Free has handed out more than 12,000 books to local kids. Every book you bring on 9/25 goes straight into that pile. Most needed: board books, early readers, picture books, and chapter books for grades 2–5.
11am - 5pm - The Read-In Bring whatever you're reading. Claim a chair. Read. Six hours of it. Come for ten minutes or stay the whole stretch. Quiet-ish, comfortable, and the closest thing to a nap you can have in public. We might even have some live music…
All Day - Bookmark Bedazzling Glitter, gems, tassels, and questionable restraint. Free with any purchase, free for kids always. Make one, take one, leave one for a stranger.
Start to Finish - Dolly music All day. Every hour. No apologies.
After Five
Dolly clocked out at five. We're just getting warmed up.
6pm - Dolly Trivia How well do you actually know her? Songs, movies, the Smokies, the sequins. Teams or solo, free to play, prize for the winner.
7pm - The Dolly Contest Best Dolly wins. Full look-alike, a single well-chosen wig, a "Jolene" t-shirt worn with total conviction. It all counts. Judged out loud, in front of everybody, by the crowd. Prizes for Dolly Herself, Song Inspired, Highest Hair, Rhinestone Queen, Movie Star, and Butterfly.
Sign up at the counter any time during the day, or just show up at 7 with the confidence of a woman who once entered her own look-alike contest and lost.
Dress the part, get the deal
Show up in Dolly gear, anything from a full costume to one strategic rhinestone, and get 15% off your purchase all day.
The bar is low. The bar is a butterfly pin or a Dolly Shirt. Please clear the bar.
Why Dolly, why us
She's an East Tennessee kid who decided that every child ought to have books at home, and then actually did something about it. The Imagination Library has been mailing free books to kids since 1995. Over 300 million in just 30 years.
We're an East Tennessee bookstore that gives kids' books away for free. The overlap isn't subtle. We started our Kids Read for Free program to fill in the book access gap from 5-12 and provide home libraries for all kids ages 0-12.
Dolly Day is our way of saying it out loud once a year: books belong to everybody, especially the kids who don't have any yet.
Good to know
Yes. All of it. The book drive, the storytime, the Read-In, the bedazzling, the trivia, the contest. 100% free.
Is it free?
1
No. You'll want to. But no.
Do I have to dress up?
2
Please do. The 9:30 storytime and the bedazzling table are built for them, and kids are welcome at everything else too.
Can I bring kids?
3
Can I come just for the evening?
4
Absolutely. Trivia's at 6, the contest is at 7, and you don't need to have been here all day.
What books do you want for the drive?
4
Kids' books in good shape. Board books, picture books, early readers, and chapter books. Nothing water-damaged or missing pages. If you're not sure, bring it and we'll sort it.
How do I enter the contest?
4
Sign up at the counter any time on 9/25, or show up at 7 and we'll add you.
Where do I park?
4
Public Parking is available in Downtown Johnson City. Please visit https://www.downtownjctn.com/parking to find the nearest parking to E Main Street.
Is this a Dolly Parton event?
4
No, we are simply celebrating the life of a wonderful woman who’s legacy will continue to inspire generations to come. This is a community event at an independent bookstore, put on by people who think she got it right.
9:30am Storytime · 11–5 Read-In · 6pm Trivia · 7pm Contest
Johnson's Literary Depot · 333 E. Main St., Downtown Johnson City
Bring a book. Bring a kid. Bring the wig.