On West Lafayette Street, where the hum of downtown life blends with the quiet rustle of turning pages, sits a bookstore that has become something more than a storefront. Classics Used & Rare Books, run by Donna and Eric Maywar, is a place where Trenton reads, gathers, debates, discovers, and grows. And this year, the couple behind the shop is bringing back one of the city’s most beloved cultural traditions: The Trenton Book Fair, a community-driven literary festival that reflects their 25‑year commitment to building a creative, inclusive, hyper‑local literary ecosystem.
The fair, revived for 2026, stretches across West Lafayette Street from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., rain or shine. More than 60 authors and vendors will fill the corridor with stories, conversations, and the unmistakable energy of people who love books. Classics itself serves as one of the indoor backup venues, a fitting anchor for a festival that grew directly out of the Maywars’ philosophy: a bookstore should be a gathering place, not just a retail space.
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The Trenton Book Fair has always been intertwined with the Maywars’ journey. They first launched it in 2006 and 2007, back when the shop was still finding its footing downtown. A decade later, the Trenton Downtown Association revived it for two years. Now, in 2026, the Maywars are bringing it back with a renewed mission: spotlight local authors, elevate underrepresented voices, and strengthen Trenton’s literary identity.
This year’s theme, “The Year of the Black Writer”, reflects Donna’s commitment to inclusive storytelling.
“Black people write every genre and we read every genre,” she says. “Romance, science fiction, history, mystery; all of it. I wanted to highlight that.”
The fair’s lineup reflects that vision. Attendees will meet nationally recognized and local authors, including:
And because this is Trenton, the fair doesn’t just celebrate books, it celebrates culture. House music, hip‑hop, and street lit all have a place here. Wahida Clark will host the Street Lit House Party, while authors like Kelly Champion (DJ Kel All Day) bring the history of house music to the page. “This is a book fair, Trenton style,” Donna says.
To understand the fair, you have to understand Classics.
Donna and Eric began selling books in New Hope in 2000, a tourist town where weekenders drifted in and out. But Trenton was already home, Donna was born and raised here, and when floods hit New Hope, the couple moved everything to Trenton. They never looked back.
Eric, who holds an MFA in creative writing, brought his love of poetry and short stories. Donna, who has worked across industries from finance to pharma to higher education, brought her focus on helping people reach their full potential. Together, they built a space that feels like a living room for the city.
Classics hosts Scrabble nights, Mahjong, knitting groups, open mics, author events, and informal gatherings where people share resources, find jobs, and sometimes even get married, Eric has officiated a wedding in the shop.
Their Trenton Books at Home Program has distributed more than 45,000 free books to Trenton children. Adults now walk in and say, “I used to come here with my parents when I was young.” The bookstore has become part of the city’s generational memory.
“We’re a third space,” Donna says. “A place where the community can gather to be with others or even to be by themselves.” Eric adds, “The book community has its own vibe. You’re going to see it on Saturday.”
The Trenton Book Fair is the natural extension of everything the Maywars have built:
The fair is also a testament to the Maywars’ determination. They applied for a local grant to support the event, but the timeline was long. So they started raising funds themselves, enough to make the fair free for attendees. When they eventually learned they didn’t receive the grant, they had already surpassed their goal. “We knew we were locked in back in April,” Donna says.
Eric sees this year’s fair as the beginning of a new era. “This year is the blueprint for the coming years,” he says. “I hope to see people continue to be excited about reading.”
Donna hopes attendees meet a new author, try a new book, and enjoy themselves. “Book people are easy,” she says. “They just want to lose themselves in a good book.”
And that’s exactly what the Trenton Book Fair, and Classics Used & Rare Books offers: a place where people can lose themselves, find themselves, and connect with the city around them.
A place where Trenton reads.
A place where Trenton gathers.
A place where Trenton grows. And a classic couple call home!
Visit www. trentonbookfair.com for full details.