Event box

Grassy hillside with hobbit-style homes featuring round, colorful doors built into the hill, chimneys rising from the turf, and a pond in the foreground.
Tolkien Day @ The University Library In-Person

One Marathon to Rule Them All…

Join us as we celebrate Tolkien Day, observed each year on March 25. Organized by the Tolkien Society, the date marks the fall of Sauron and the destruction of the One Ring in The Lord of the Rings, a symbolic moment of hope, renewal, and the triumph of courage over darkness. Around the world, fans gather to read, watch, and celebrate the enduring legacy of J.R.R. Tolkien’s imagination. And of course, we’re doing it Library-style… with a marathon.

This year, we’re screening all three animated Hobbit/Lord of the Rings films back-to-back—so settle in, grab some popcorn, and prepare for adventure. Come for one film or stay for the entire quest!

Throughout the Marathon:

  • Middle-earth Photo Station
  • Drop-in crafts fit for elves, dwarves, and hobbits
  • Fresh popcorn (second breakfast not guaranteed… but highly encouraged)
  • LOTR-themed stickers & buttons
  • A curated display of Tolkien’s works, adaptations, and scholarship to explore between films

Come dressed as your favorite character, bring your fellowship, or simply claim a cozy corner and spend the day in Middle-earth. Whether you’re here for nostalgia, scholarship, epic storytelling, or just the Shire vibes, Tolkien Day is your invitation to celebrate one of the most influential fantasy worlds ever created, right here at the Library.

There and back again… we’ll see you in Middle-earth.

Registration is preferred but not required. 

Date:
Wednesday, March 25, 2026
Time:
1:00pm - 7:00pm
Time Zone:
Eastern Time - US & Canada (change)
Location:
Minerva Room (Map )
Campus:
The Uptown Campus
Audience:
  Faculty and Staff     Undergraduate and Graduate Students  
Categories:
  Films     Special Events  

Event Registration Only

Registration is required. There are 90 seats available.

The Hobbit (1977)
Rated: TV-Y7
Runtime: 78 minutes
Bilbo Baggins is swept from his cozy hobbit hole into a grand adventure alongside Gandalf and thirteen dwarves on a quest to reclaim treasure from the dragon Smaug. This Rankin/Bass animated classic is whimsical, musical, and full of nostalgic charm.

The Lord of the Rings (1978)
Rated: PG
Runtime: 132 minutes
Ralph Bakshi’s bold, rotoscoped adaptation follows Frodo and the Fellowship as they set out to destroy the One Ring in the fires of Mount Doom. Darker in tone and visually striking, this cult favorite covers The Fellowship of the Ring and part of The Two Towers.

The Return of the King (1980)
Rated: TV-G
Runtime: 98 minutes
This Rankin/Bass animated adaptation brings the saga to its conclusion as Frodo and Sam journey toward Mount Doom and Aragorn rises to claim his destiny. Expect heartfelt moments—and songs that will live in your head forever.