Event Strategy & Full-Scale Planning
From the first idea to the last guest: concept, logistics, partners, promotion. Fully produced, flawlessly run.
EST. 2021 · CHICAGO
You don’t want folks to just remember your work. You want them to be moved by it.
That’s where we come in.
Experiential marketing and unforgettable events for authors, publishers, nonprofits, and brands. Chicago-born. Routes built by stories.
Book-themed guided runs, invented in Chicago — now nationwide.
As featured in the press
01Positioning
Beyond visibility.
Into connection.
Routes built by stories.
The world is crowded with content and starved for experience. We build the events that turn a reader into a superfan — event strategy, full-scale planning, speaking engagements, and creative marketing for authors, publishers, nonprofits, and brands.
Allison Yates
Founder, Read and Run Tours LLC
Founder Allison Yates comes from experiential learning and event design, and builds on one belief: an imaginative, well-crafted event builds community, deepens relationships, and keeps your work memorable.
02Offerings
What we make
Speaking Engagements
Allison on experiential marketing, event design, and building community around a book.
Book-Themed Guided Runs
The format we invented: read the book, then run the streets it’s set in — with the author. In Chicago, and nationwide.
2021Founded in Chicago
1Format we invented: the book-themed guided run
3Ways to work with us — strategy, speaking, runs
03Proof
Authors on working with us
"Working with Allison has been a consistently wonderful experience.
My book, Chicago Transit Hikes, is intended for a very wide audience, and Read & Run events have been invaluable in helping to introduce the title to many different communities, which not only benefits me as the author but the community of readers as well. Additionally, Read & Run events have helped me better understand what my audience wants and how I can, as a writer, meet those needs."
"I would highly recommend working with Allison to bring your story to life!
I’ve worked with Allison for routes for my locally set novels, Gaybash and Summerdale. At each event, I met readers who wanted a deeper connection to my stories by exploring the neighborhoods in which they were set. Backstory and history came together on these routes, which were carefully plotted for not only the pace of the novels, but the pace of the runners. Read & Run welcomes all ages and abilities, and the deep diversity of participants made for a lively book discussion and Q&A after the run."
"Working with Allison was great.
She brought my book to new readers by offering an opportunity for them to read and then visit the places where the story’s action happened. And she did a great job of booking a TV spot to get the word out around Chicago about the event."
"An exceptional experience from start to finish.
Allison thoughtfully translated the book’s themes into a fully immersive event … each element intentionally chosen to bring the book’s message to life in a tangible, memorable way. … The entire event was flawlessly executed. Throughout the planning process, Allison kept everyone informed with consistent, clear communication, and guests left genuinely moved by the experience. That’s exactly what I hope from hosting a book event! … If you’re an author looking for a creative partner who can get the word out about your book in a way that’s engaging, meaningful, and fun, I can’t recommend Allison highly enough.
04Finish line
Want to learn more about our work?
Tell us about your book, your campaign, or your event. We’ll build the route.