Copper Boom! A Special Announcement for Gilmore Girls fans!
It’s starting to smell like snow…and coffee….
Hey there, Gilmore Girls fans! Are you ready to channel Lorelai’s olfactory senses? Because the Smells Like Snow Coffee Festival is back and better than ever! As always, we’re converging in downtown Akron, Ohio on Saturday, November 1st, from noon to 7:30 pm, this time at the newly renovated and downright gorgeous Lock 3 Park. It’ll be a day where coffee, boutique shopping, art, music, and Stars Hollow-style whimsy collide in the best possible way. And the best part? Attendance is free! It’s a city fest, so get there any way you can.
I’m beyond excited to be returning to this year’s festival. As usual, Todd Lowe and I will be hanging out to meet fans, snap photos, and sign autographs. But this year there’s something totally new I’m pumped about: Keiko Agena and I are presenting an art show we’ve dubbed Hep Tones as a nod to our (fictional-but-not-so-fictional) rock ‘n roll days. It’ll feature our artwork, snacks, drinks, and some premium art-world mingling. And if you know me, you know I love to mingle. Keiko won’t be there due to a conflict, but she plans to attend as a Max Headroom-style floating head over Zoom (comment below if you got that reference without Google 📺).
Here’s what’s happening at the festival:
Coffee & Food Worthy of Luke Danes
Many will be coming for the cozy Stars Hollow vibes, but most will be there for the friiiiiiigin coffee! And if that’s you, I have some very good news. There will be close to a dozen (you read that right, A DOZEN) local coffee vendors, including Sappho and Her Beans, Bereka Coffee, Farmhand Coffee, Moonstone Coffee Works, The Pearl Coffee Company, and Happy Camper Lemonade and Hot Cocoa. Hungry? Birdies Food Truck, Thai It Up, DonutNV, The Curious Crêpe, Saffron Patch, and more will be serving up festival fuel all day.
Hep Tones: Art From the Band You Love
Our gallery show at Forever Changes is a brand-new addition to the festivities, and I could not be more excited. You’ll see a selection of exquisite works by Keiko, a variety of my own sketches, and yes, if you see something you love, you can most certainly take it home. Timed-entry tickets will be free but should keep things cozy (the gallery can only hold 100 people at a time—fire marshals are not messing around these days… but were they ever?) Keep your eyes peeled on this website for when those tickets are available or follow me on Instagram where I’ll let people know as soon as I do.
Music & Special Guests
Music is a huge part of the festival. We’ll have live performances from local musicians all day, and Grant-Lee Phillips, the “Town Troubadour,” headlines at 6 pm with a free concert. Will he be playing Free Bird? Only time will tell.
And of course, Todd and I will be around for autographs, photos, and maybe some surprise singalongs with fans as if we’re headlining CBGBs.
Stars Hollow–Style Fun
This festival has all the little touches that make it feel like Stars Hollow:
Ornament-making with Street Craftery (Sookie would approve)
Luke-Alike Contest (for the best flannel-and-coffee energy)
Button-making at the library’s TechZone
Gilmore Girls trivia at Barley House (a competitive Akron sport)
…and plenty of other surprises that only a Gilmore Girls-themed festival can deliver.
Travel & Stay Options
I already mentioned it (but I’ll say it again, cause it’s worth saying again and again): the festival itself is free to attend. But… if you’re coming from out of town and plan to stay for all of the festivities, you might want to get yourself a room. The Courtyard by Marriott downtown has a special festival rate and is less than a mile from Lock 3. Because let’s face it—no Gilmore fan wants to trek across town when coffee and art are calling. Reserve your room here by October 8th.
Final Thoughts
This festival is all about coffee, music, art, and that Stars Hollow charm. Whether you’ve been a fan since the early 2000s or just binged the series now, November 1st in Akron is shaping up to be an unforgettable day. I can’t wait to see you all there, to rock out with you Hep Alien-style, and to share a little of that Stars Hollow magic. See you soon!
❤️
—John