American Festivals: Alabama - Florida

ALABAMA
Alabama Bound
Location: Birmingham
Date: April
This book festival is hosted by the Birmingham Public Library, and focuses on Alabama writers and writing. Listen to authors read and talk and get books signed. You’ll also meet Alabama publishers and editors of magazines as well as representatives of writing groups.

ARIZONA
Arizona Book Festival
Location: To be announced
Date: To be announced
Taking a break from its normal spring schedule in order to seek a new venue, this festival plans to return in either Fall 2008 or Spring 2009. In the past, it has featured a wide variety of events including an all day waffle breakfast, silent auction, several stages with authors, children’s events, mystery & sci-fi, and southwestern. You can sign up to be a “Festival Insider,” and they will e-mail you information as it becomes available.

Northern Arizona Book Festival
Location: Flagstaff
Date: April
This festival uses historic downtown Flagstaff and local colleges to provide a “link between basic literacy efforts and artistic literary endeavors.” It has a fabulous array of events, but what’s a bit different about this one is that these are going on for months in advance of the actual festival weekend and include writing workshops, fundraising affairs and more.

ARKANSAS
Arkansas Literary Festival
Location: Little Rock
Date: April
This festival terms itself a “celebration of literacy, language, and the written word.” It offers author events, children’s craft and writing activities, teen writing workshops, exhibitors and a truly amazing variety of panels and special events. A few of latter have included a literary quiz show, an appearance by NPR’s “The Book Guys,” a martini reception with the invited authors, a lunch with “Dr. BBQ,” a children’s breakfast and literacy awards. You can subscribe to a monthly e-newsletter.

Books in Bloom
Location: Eureka Springs
Date: May
This festival is one of the kick-off events for the their Festival of Arts, and offers a wide array of authors for every literary interest. Pretty location too.

CALIFORNIA
Central Coast Book Festival
Location: San Luis Obispo
Date: September
This delightfully small town festival has a children’s events area with storytelling, crafts and entertainment and music as well as a full day of talks, workshops and panels by local and visiting authors.

Latino Book and Family Festival
Location: Hollywood
Month: October
Launched in 1997, this weekend event has already expanded to several major markets, and is planning for more in the near future. It is co-hosted by actor and activist Edward James Olmos. it is an incredible event that includes books and authors (naturally) as well as vendors in career and education, crafts and travel, health, and home ownership. They have several stages, food courts, an art exhibition theatre, science, and a Writing Exhibition.

Litquake
Location: San Francisco
Month: October
Celebrating city’s reputation as a literary and arts center as well as the earthquake-prone area that it is, Litquake showcases hundreds of authors and 22 events spread over eight days at various theatres, bars, galleries, retail outlets, laundromats, even libraries and bookstores. An amazing festival.

Los Angeles Times Festival of Books
Location: West Los Angeles
Date: April
Possibly the largest book festival in the nation, this two-day extravaganza of authors (more than 400), exhibitors (more than 300), 100 panels and conversations, six outdoor stages with continuous entertainment, two large children’s areas and nearly 130,000 happy attendees is fabulous.

Orange County Children’s Book Festival
Location: Costa Mesa
Date: September
Now a two-day event, this festival includes three different stages (animal, international and sports) with authors and vendors of books related to them, an entertainment stage, and panels. More than 80 vendors and a dozen renowned illustrators, who will talk about and demonstrate their work, will be there. Food and drink as well as an abundance of children’s activities such as face painting, clowns, musicians, readings and drawings are guaranteed to keep children of all ages happy.

Palm Springs Book Festival
Location: Palm Springs
Date: November
Sponsored by Peppertree Bookstore, this festival, though not new, is still in the planning stages. Past ones look like they have been fun, though, so check it out. If you are an artist, consider submitting an entry to become the poster for their third year. I don’t know if it will survive, but I hope so

Santa Barbara Book & Author Festival
Location: Santa Barbara
Date: September
Held under the trees between the art museum and the library (and with a popular bookstore across the street), this festival gathers quite a few authors and writers to participate in a wide range of interesting panels. Numerous vendors offer books and other reading-related gadgets. There’s plenty for children to do too.

Sonoma County Book Festival
Location: Santa Rosa
Date: September
Downtown becomes a book city when this festival happens with readings, presentations and book signings by numerous authors, panel discussions and other book-inspired activities, staged music and art, children’s activities, and more than 50 exhibitors with wares to please everyone.

West Hollywood Book Fair
Location: Hollywood
Date: September
An eclectic literary event, this festival is quite large, hosting more than 300 authors, 12 stages and 100 vendors. There is live storytelling, theater, poetry readings and performances, and writing workshops in the categories of comics/SF/manga/horror, fiction, LGBT, politics and culture, arts and entertainment, children and family, mystery/crime/suspense and how-to for writers. More than 20,000 readers and booklovers show up for this wonderful one.

CONNECTICUT
Connecticut Children's Book Fair
Location: Storrs
Date: November
Two days of meeting the authors and illustrators of children’s book await those who brave the winter. Offerings include breakfast with storybook characters, storytelling, crafts, holiday shopping, book signings and much more. A family-oriented weekend.

Rabbit Hill Festival of Literature
Location: Westport
Date: October
Though open to the public, this festival focuses primarily on literature for middle grade (and elementary) students; it even offers course credit. Running Thursday, Friday and Saturday, it includes tours, lectures, author presentations, book signings and a dinner with the guest authors.

DELAWARE
Delaware Book Fair and Authors Day
Location: Dover
Date: April
An apparently bi-annual event, this book festival has no web site of its own. However, you can get information through the Delaware Heritage Commission (linked above).

Delaware Book Festival
Location: Dover
Date: November
Still in its early years, but doing very well is this festival which has an increasing number of nationally-known authors and illustrators. Their panels and workshops include ones on writing poetry, creating blogs, getting published, repairing and appraising books and more.

FLORIDA
Amelia Book Island Festival
Location: Amelia Island
Date: October
A desire to make their home known as a “book island,” the founders created this event where that offers readers the opportunity to hear their favorite authors talk and read their own work, attend workshops, and enjoy signings, luncheons, a cruise and parties, and schedule agent pitches in a historic town. Part of the event includes the “Authors-in-Schools” day where children get to meet those who make their living through words.

Lee County Reading Festival
Location: Fort Myers
Date: March
“This free annual festival incites a passion for reading,” it proclaims. And it could be right with author panels, presentations, signings for adults; storytelling, games and activities for the kids; and a gala reception with the authors; a Chocolate and Spirits fundraiser; and more.

Miami Book Fair International
Location: Miami
Date: November
This rather amazing festival goes all out with a week-long reading series called “Evenings With . . .”; a Children’s Alley with storytelling, puppets, theatrical performances, games and activities; an International Village featuring literature, fine arts, culture, wines and folkloric traditions from around the world; the three-day street fair with hundreds of booksellers and exhibitors; an Antiquarian Annex with exhibitors specializing in collectibles; and a Write Out Loud café that showcases writers, performance artists and monologuists.

Much Ado About Books
Location: Jacksonville
Date: April
An annual fundraising even to benefit the Jacksonville Public Library, this festival features a keynote luncheon with well-known authors, readings, book signings, panel discussions, a special children’s area, writers’ workshops, exhibitors, and an Author’s Day in Schools.

St. Petersburg Times Festival of Reading
Location: St. Petersburg
Date: October
With a large array of authors, quite a few vendors and a special Children’s Storyland with costumed characters, games and activities, this festival is one not to be missed if possible.

Sarasota Reading Festival
Location: Sarasota
Date: November
More than 100 author readings and seminars, special children’s events, themed pavilions, a bookseller’s marketplace, live cooking demonstrations and the opening night Author Cocktail reception make up this wonderful book festival. They also have a Children’s Book Give Away that ensures every child present has an opportunity to select one free book.

Southwest Florida Reading Festival    
Location: Ft. Myers
Date: March
Events at this festival include various author programs, a festival marketplace, Authors’ Alley, a keynote speaker and a dance performance, a writing workshop, a luncheon Meet & Greet and several special evening events for adults. Events for children include storytelling, a writing contest, a free books, shows, a bookmobile and much more. Teen’s events include contests and giveaways, presentations by graphic novelists and other YA writers, a marketplace and more. There are also events in Spanish.

Vero Beach Book Fest
Location: Vero Beach
Date: November
This is one busy festival. Symposiums, luncheons, a special evening with the authors, reception, panel presentations, authors panels, signings, a festival marketplace with special places for kids, local authors, exhibitors, a food court and entertainment round out the offerings.