Expozine, Montreal’s small press, comic and zine fair, hits the double digits this year. Whereas I celebrated with a bowling party and having my ears pierced, the indie lit fair will mark the big 1-0 with over 270 of its closest pals: the writers and illustrators behind thousands of small press books, zines, and graphic novels from all over Quebec, Canada, the US and Europe. Not bad for a tenth birthday party!

The festivities start with an opening event (November 25 at 7pm @ Drawn & Quarterly, 211 Bernard Ouest), featuring a round-table discussion with Expozine co-founders and long-standing members: Louis Rastelli, Andy Brown, Billy Mavreas and Pascal-Angelo Fioramore. Four Minutes to Midnight will also be launching their latest issue, dedicated to the Expozine participants past and present.

The fair itself happens on Saturday November 26 & Sunday November 27, from noon to 6pm @ 5035 St. Dominique (Église Saint-Enfant Jésus, Laurier Métro). Expozine is one of the largest independent book fairs in North America, where you’ll find thousands of publications that are impossible to get elsewhere in Montreal. Among them will be cut & paste, a Montreal craft and design outfit devoted to recycled, hand crafted collage and paper goods; hometown favorite Ghost Pine Fanzine by Jeff Miller; and Matt Forsythe whose work appears in the latest issue of Nobrow and who just released his first children’s book, My Name is Elizabeth.

The 10th anniversary closing party goes down on Saturday November 26 (8pm-3am @ Casa del Popolo, 4873 St. Laurent). The free event features music by J.A.S.S.