2027 Chicago Event Tentative Schedule
WILD AND WINDY 2027 CHICAGO BOOK EVENT
THURSDAY EVENTS
4PM: HOTEL ROOM CHECK-IN OPENS. IF YOU BOOKED UNDER THE ROOM BLOCK, BE SURE YOU GET YOUR COMMERMORATIVE KEYCARD
5PM-6PM: VENDOR SETUP-LASALLE HALLWAY (EVENT STAFF WILL BRING LANYARDS AND REGISTRATION PACKETS TO VENDORS THAT ARE SELLING DURING EARLY REGISTRATION) The Last Chapter Bookshop will be in Higgins on the main level at the end of the hall just past the hotel check in desk.
5PM-8PM: ATTENDEE EARLY REGISTRATION - Division. Pickup your event totes and lanyards. Lanyards must be worn at all times to enter event areas. There will also be green star stickers for those who are friendship trading and hug/no hug stickers available as well as silver markers for adding your name to your badge.
6PM-10PM: ALL VENDORS OPEN FOR SHOPPING
7-8PM FRIENDSHIP TRADING OUTSIDE OF THE MICHIGAN BALLROOM
8PM-9PM: ATTENDEE ORIENTATION by your hosts Nicole Huffman and Michelle Mankin. Likely we’ll giveaway some swag. Definitely going to give pro tips. Location: MICHIGAN BALLROOM.
9PM-10PM FRIENDSHIP TRADING CONTINUES OUTSIDE OF THE MICHIGAN BALLROOM.
9PM-10PM: ANNOTATION KIT AND BOOK JOURNALING DEMONSTRATION by Dark Midnight Design Co. in MICHIGAN BALLROOM.
6PM-10PM: AUTHOR SET-UP. 2 FREE DRINK TICKETS PER AUTHOR for use during setup time at the Grand Ballroom bar. GRAND BALLROOM, LASALLE, LAKESHORE. Author registration will be outside of each ballroom. Inside each ballroom a salty and sweet snack reception and a bar will be available.
FRIDAY EVENTS
D A Y T I M E
SIGNING SESSION
8AM-10AM: AUTHOR ADDITIONAL SET-UP TIME
8AM-10AM: ATTENDEES CAN PICKUP PREORDERED PREPURCHASED ITEMS FROM VENDORS. LASALLE HALLWAY. If unsure if your vendor is open contact them directly.
9AM: VIPS (GOLD) CAN REGISTER in front of the doors to the Grand Ballroom. Lineup is in the breezeway beside this ballroom. Must lineup in order by the number that is on your badge.
10AM-11AM: EXCLUSIVE VIPs ONLY EARLY ENTRY HOUR to see the authors.
10-11AM: GA’S (PINK) CAN REGISTER AND LINE-UP in the breezeway beside the Grand Ballroom. Must lineup in order by the number that is on your badge. Access to the other signing rooms will go by the number on your badge.
11AM: PINK LEVEL CAN ENTER to see the authors.
1:30PM - 3:00PM WESTIN GRAB AND GO LUNCH KIOSK OUTSIDE HIGGINS WHICH IS AT THE END OF THE HALL PAST THE HOTEL CHECKIN DESK.
2PM: FRIDAY SIGNING SESSION ENDS
10AM-2PM THESE VENDORS ARE OPEN FOR SHOPPING. LASALLE.
N I G H T T I M E
5PM-6PM: VENDOR SET UP. Lasalle
6PM-10PM: VENDOR SHOPPING. Lasalle. Open to all ticket holders.
6PM-7PM: VIPs ONLY. EXCLUSIVE VIP PANEL PROGRAMMING. Dual concurrent locations. Michigan Ballroom and the Amphitheater. VIPs are welcome to choose either panel during this hour. However, keep in mind that if one room reaches capacity, you will have to choose the other one. Panelists and topics can be found in the attendee packet. Your VIP lanyard is necessary to enter these panels.
7PM-10PM: PANEL PROGRAMMING FRIDAY SESSIONS Open to all Ticket Holders. Dual concurrent locations. Michigan Ballroom and the Amphitheater. Panelists and topics can be found in your attendee packet. First come, first serve for each panel. Panels are 45 minutes long, depending on popularity the room might be cleared between panels.
7PM-10PM: VIPs ONLY. KAMA SUTRA VIP BINGO (Madison Ballroom) listed as “bingo” on the door. Be warned. It’s totally inappropriate. Paperback prizes.
7PM-10PM: FUN IN THE SUN VIP PARTY - Lower Level. Director’s Parlor, A & B. Luau theme. Featuring Author Sponsors and other special guests TBA. This is an additional opportunity for VIP ticket holders to meet these authors and narrators, buy their merchandise or books, and get signatures. If you would like to bring items from home for these authors/narrators to sign, you may bring them. No preorder pickup except during the Friday and Saturday signing sessions.
VIPs can also play party games, luau and xxx themed) run by volunteers and flockers. Swag pack prizes. The bookish and/or luau themed outfit contest is open to all—>prize is a VIP ticket to Wild and Windy Chicago 2028! ENTRY for the outfit contest on the official post in the attendee group that is scheduled for 5pm Friday.
There will be a special Fun in the Sun themed swag gift for each VIP in your tote, and VIPs will have a Fun in the Sun photobooth with a commemorative frame, a DJ, and a cash bar with a signature tropical drink, Blue Rum Punch.
SATURDAY EVENTS
D A Y T I M E
SIGNING SESSION
9AM: VIPS CAN REGISTER in front of the Grand Ballroom and line up beside it. Must lineup in order by the number that is on your badge.
10AM-11AM: EXCLUSIVE VIPs ONLY EARLY ENTRY HOUR to see the authors in the GRAND BALLROOM, LaSalle, and Lakeshore Ballroom.
10AM-11AM: GA’S PINK LEVEL CAN REGISTER & LINE-UP in the breezeway beside the Grand Ballroom. Must lineup in order by the number that is on your badge.
10AM-2PM THESE VENDORS ARE OPEN FOR SHOPPING LASALLE HALLWAY SATURDAY.
11AM: PINK LEVEL CAN ENTER the Grand Ballroom, LaSalle or Lakeshore Ballroom.
1:30PM - 3:00PM WESTIN GRAB AND GO LUNCH KIOSK OUTSIDE HIGGINS WHICH IS AT THE END OF THE HALL PAST THE HOTEL CHECKIN DESK.
2PM: SIGNING SESSION 2 ENDS
N I G H T T I M E
4-6PM: LET’S TALK ABOUT SPICY BOOKS. NARRATORS WILL READ SPICY SCENES. Michigan and Amphitheater. See attendee packet for choices.
5-7PM: Westin and WW Core Volunteer crew prep the Grand Ballroom for the Pajama Party.
6-8PM: KAMA SUTRA BINGO. All ticket holders welcome while space lasts. AMPITHEATER
8-10ishPM: PJ PARTY. Open to all attendees. Grand Ballroom and Breezeway. DJ, desserts, Photo ops, Photobooth, swag, and dancing. Last chance to mix, mingle, and get your journals signed by friends. Signature drink is a Chocolate Martini that will be offered at the cash bar. 2 bars inside the ballroom. 1 outside in the Grand Breezeway.
SUNDAY
10AM-12PM AFTER EVENT MIXER. The Last Chapter Book Shop. 2013 W Roscoe St, Chicago, IL 60618. Shop and support local bookstore owner Amanda Anderson.
2027 TICKETS GO ON SALE IN JULY.
The main difference between the two levels is signing room time which is 8 hours for VIPs and 6 for GAs. ViPs also get a Fun in the Sun party
VIP (GOLD) $325
Thursday optional early registration, vendor shopping, annotation kit/journaling demonstration, and friendship bracelet/attendee orientation
2 parties, a Friday Luau party and a Saturday PJ party. Both have a DJ and a photo booth
Exclusive early entry hour into the signing sessions with authors on Friday and Saturday for a total of 8 hours over both days.
VIP panels on Friday
Exclusive VIP Friday swag item
Spicy panels on Saturday
A premium tote, two premium swag items, and an event autograph journal that will have gold foiling on the cover.
PINK (GA) $225
Thursday optional early registration, vendor shopping, annotation kit/journaling demonstration, and friendship bracelet/attendee orientation
Friday Panels and vendor shopping
A Saturday PJ party with a DJ and a photo booth
Entry into the signing sessions with authors on Friday and Saturday for a total of 6 hours over both days.
Spicy panels on Saturday
A premium tote, 1 premium swag item, and an event autograph journal that will have a non-gold foil cover.