Date: Monday, October 26, 2026
Time: 9:00 PM – Midnight
Where: The Vixen McHenry
Admission: $90
The first 50 darlings to purchase their tickets will receive an exclusive commemorative bookmark!
The stars have aligned and Hello Darling Books & Beyond is bringing a celebration unlike anything McHenry has seen before.
Join us for Hello Darling’s Starlight & Stories, an unforgettable midnight release party celebrating the arrival of ACOTAR Book 6. We have rented the entire venue at The Vixen and are transforming it into a magical evening filled with books, fandom, local vendors, music, cocktails, activities, and fellow readers who have been waiting years for this moment.
This isn’t your typical bookstore release event. This is a full-scale celebration created by readers, for readers.
Whether you’ve been part of the journey since the beginning or recently discovered the magic of Prythian, this is your chance to celebrate alongside fellow fans as we count down to midnight together.
Come dressed for our ACOTAR Costume contest! Whether you embody your favorite character, recreate a scene from the books or arrive in your most enchanting Night Court, Spring Court or Starfall-inspired ball attire, we can’t wait to see your creativity. The winner will receive Books for a Year from Hello Darling Books & Beyond!
Your Ticket Includes:
A hardcover copy of Book 6
DJ and music throughout the evening with DJ Clinto
The Velaris Market featuring local vendors
Photo booth with Elizabeth M. Photography
Complimentary Small bites
Access to the cash bar featuring a special themed cocktail for the evening
Bookish craft activities
Costume contest - Win Books for a Year from Hello Darling Books & Beyond!
Games and interactive activities
Midnight countdown celebration
Tattoo station
And a few surprises we aren’t ready to reveal just yet
Between the midnight release, dancing, shopping, photo ops, cocktails, activities, and the overwhelming urge to immediately start reading Book 6 the moment you get home, we can’t promise you’ll be productive the next morning.
Gather your friends, dust off your Night Court attire, and prepare for a night of starlight, stories, and celebration.
We cannot wait to welcome readers from across the region for what promises to be one of the most memorable bookish events of the year!
Age Requirement
Starlight & Stories is a 17+ event. All guests must present a valid government-issued photo ID at check-in. Guests under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult for the entire duration of your stay. Alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase from The Vixen. In accordance with Illinois law, guests must be 21 years of age or older and present a valid government-issued photo ID to purchase or consume alcoholic beverages.
Please note that no guests under the age of 17 will be admitted, even if accompanied by a parent or guardian.
If you are a local business that would like to join the party and have the opportunity to sell your amazing products in this wonderful bookish world…please email us! Tina.Lawrence@HelloDarlingBookshop.com and we will get you the official Velaris Market Vendor Packet Information.
Please note: Ticket purchases include a pre-ordered copy of the book which you receive the night of. Please don’t hold Hello Darling Books & Beyond responsible for any delays caused by distributors, shipping carriers or publishers. Tickets are non-refundable; however, if the release date is officially changed by the publisher, your ticket and reserved book will automatically transfer to the new event date. Date: Monday, October 26, 2026
Time: 9:00 PM – Midnight
Where: The Vixen McHenry
Admission: $90
The first 50 darlings to purchase their tickets will receive an exclusive commemorative bookmark!
The stars have aligned and Hello Darling Books & Beyond is bringing a celebration unlike anything McHenry has seen before.
Join us for Hello Darling’s Starlight & Stories, an unforgettable midnight release party celebrating the arrival of ACOTAR Book 6. We have rented the entire venue at The Vixen and are transforming it into a magical evening filled with books, fandom, local vendors, music, cocktails, activities, and fellow readers who have been waiting years for this moment.
This isn’t your typical bookstore release event. This is a full-scale celebration created by readers, for readers.
Whether you’ve been part of the journey since the beginning or recently discovered the magic of Prythian, this is your chance to celebrate alongside fellow fans as we count down to midnight together.
Come dressed for our ACOTAR Costume contest! Whether you embody your favorite character, recreate a scene from the books or arrive in your most enchanting Night Court, Spring Court or Starfall-inspired ball attire, we can’t wait to see your creativity. The winner will receive Books for a Year from Hello Darling Books & Beyond!
Your Ticket Includes:
A hardcover copy of Book 6
DJ and music throughout the evening with DJ Clinto
The Velaris Market featuring local vendors
Photo booth with Elizabeth M. Photography
Complimentary Small bites
Access to the cash bar featuring a special themed cocktail for the evening
Bookish craft activities
Costume contest - Win Books for a Year from Hello Darling Books & Beyond!
Games and interactive activities
Midnight countdown celebration
Tattoo station
And a few surprises we aren’t ready to reveal just yet
Between the midnight release, dancing, shopping, photo ops, cocktails, activities, and the overwhelming urge to immediately start reading Book 6 the moment you get home, we can’t promise you’ll be productive the next morning.
Gather your friends, dust off your Night Court attire, and prepare for a night of starlight, stories, and celebration.
We cannot wait to welcome readers from across the region for what promises to be one of the most memorable bookish events of the year!
Age Requirement
Starlight & Stories is a 17+ event. All guests must present a valid government-issued photo ID at check-in. Guests under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult for the entire duration of your stay. Alcoholic beverages will be available for purchase from The Vixen. In accordance with Illinois law, guests must be 21 years of age or older and present a valid government-issued photo ID to purchase or consume alcoholic beverages.
Please note that no guests under the age of 17 will be admitted, even if accompanied by a parent or guardian.
If you are a local business that would like to join the party and have the opportunity to sell your amazing products in this wonderful bookish world…please email us! Tina.Lawrence@HelloDarlingBookshop.com and we will get you the official Velaris Market Vendor Packet Information.
Please note: Ticket purchases include a pre-ordered copy of the book which you receive the night of. Please don’t hold Hello Darling Books & Beyond responsible for any delays caused by distributors, shipping carriers or publishers. Tickets are non-refundable; however, if the release date is officially changed by the publisher, your ticket and reserved book will automatically transfer to the new event date. 