American Festivals: Georgia - North Carolina

GEORGIA
Decatur Book Festival
Location: Decatur
Date: August/September
A multi-day event that features 14 stages packed with authors, live music, poetry readings, panel discussions, signings and cooking demonstrations. The children will be entertained with authors and illustrators, a parade and field trips and games/activities. The downtown square will be filled with food and been vendors, a wine garden and plenty of other culinary establishments. The Rare and Collectible Book Fair is included and closely aligned is the Writers’ Conference.

Georgia Literary Festival
Location: “Moveable”; it moves to a new location within the state each year.
Date: September
This festival focuses though not exclusively on homegrown authors. Over the course of three days, it offers readings, storytelling, theatre, a book sale, lectures, author appearances and signings, craft demonstrations, children’s activities, exhibitors and more.

IDAHO
Ernest Hemingway Festival
Location: Sun Valley
Date: September
A festival devoted to this American author, a favorite of many readers, that offers talks by authors and editors of other publications about Hemingway, a book fair, guided tours, slide presentations, student readings, a dinner at Hemingway’s home, a film showing and an open mic night.

ILLINOIS
Latino Book & Family Festival
Location: Chicago
Date: November
Launched in 1997, this November 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.

Midwest Literary Festival
Location: Aurora
Date: October
An entire weekend devoted to readings, panel discussions, one-on-one interviews, children’s activities, workshops and book signings, cooking demonstrations, storytelling takes place at this festival located in historic downtown Aurora near the waterfront. An all-day writers’ conference is also offered, as are several special events.

Printers Row Book Fair
Location: Chicago
Date: June
One of the nation’s largest book festivals, this one features nearly 200 author programs, 150 exhibitors, a Dictionary-Define-a-Thon, and a Kids Alley with storytelling, costumed characters, performances, sing-alongs and special activities.

KENTUCKY
Kentucky Book Fair
Location: Louisville
Date: November
More than 200 authors now visit this book fair along with lots of vendors and special children’s events. All profits are donated to school and public libraries throughout the state.

Southern Kentucky Book Fest
“Open a book, open your mind” is their motto, and their focus on encouraging reading is demonstrated through their (pre-fest and fest) activities: 1Read for teens, Books & Baskets, Children’s Book Week, a used book sale, personal meetings between children and the authors, a Meet the Authors Reception, seven separate rooms each with its own panel and author presentations.

LOUISIANA
Louisiana Book Festival
Location: Baton Rouge
Date: November
Featuring a wide array of authors covering many genres from Arts to Westerns, and activities specially for children and teens (including a Young Readers Pavilion), cooking demonstrations and an entertainment stage.

New Orleans Bookfair
Location: New Orleans
Date: November
This festival features a pre-bookfair party, readings and performances, a raffle, music, author videos and an “After-After Party.” Related events include a microcosm publishing tour, a banned books event, and a conference.

Author! Author! Shreveport’s Celebration of the Written Word
Location: Shreveport
Date: July
This festival promotes reading in Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas with not only guest authors and the usual book festival activities such as workshops, panels and author presentations and signings, but also a Pre-Opening Event and a Grand Ball.

Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival
Location: New Orleans
Date: March
Devoted specifically to Williams, this festival is a five-day celebration that encompasses scholars, writers and performing artists in panel discussions, theatrical and musical performances, a one-act play competition, lectures, literary walking tours, performances and a book fair.

MARYLAND
Baltimore Book Festival
Location: Baltimore
Date: September
From Friday evening through Sunday evening, this festival hums with a go-everywhere-and-do-everything attitude. Panels, authors, discussions, lectures, music, storytelling, walking tours, theatre, poetry readings, open mike readings plus “fun stuff”: various neighborhood events, a book swap, handwriting analysis, a crafts corridor, a book arts tent, magazine stand and storybook parade.

MICHIGAN
Ann Arbor Book Festival
Location: Ann Arbor
Date: May
Still in its early years, this festival nonetheless is doing it right—its events run nearly three weeks! A pre-festival Scavenger Hunt using bookstores, libraries and fairy door establishments helps set the mood. There is an antiquarian book fair, a B&N book fair, author visits to schools, children’s events, a literacy symposium, a writers’ conference, a street festival, plenty of authors, a teen writing contest and much more. 

MINNESOTA
Deep Valley Book Festival
Location: Mankato
Date: November
This festival likes to promote local authors and the books they write through panel discussions, author interviews, readings, storytelling for children, music and more. There’s also a Young Writer’s Competition for students in grades 3 through 12.

Twin Cities Book Festival
Location: Minneapolis
Date: October
This festival features a wide range of exhibitors, readings, talks and signings by local and national authors, book arts activities, children’s events, a used book sale and Literary Magazine Fair plus more.

MISSISSIPPI
Fay B. Kaigler Children’s Book Festival
Location: Hattiesburg
Date: April
Held over three days, this festival offers workshops, lectures, signings, author luncheons and a closing reception. Registration is recommended.

Natchez Literary and Cinema Celebration
Location: Natchez
Date: February
This five-day literary and cultural event which each year focuses on a different general aspect of southern history features lectures by nationally known scholars and writers, related films, tours, book signings, exhibits, plays, readings, concerts, entertainments and meals.

Oxford Conference for the Book
Location: Oxford
Date: March
Not quite a book festival, yet not strictly a conference, this “conference” offers the public the chance to attend a series of program sessions without charge. Other opportunities include a Mississippi Delta Literary Tour, a Writers Workshop and a Youth Authors Fair plus a buffet, several lunches and a dinner; there are charges for these. 

MISSOURI
Children’s Literature Festival
Location: Warrensburg
Date: March
Presented by Central Missouri State University’s library, this festival is geared specifically to children in grades 4-10. Pre-registration (there is a fee) is required for both adults and children, which includes a luncheon. More than 40 authors attend to share their books and stores.

MONTANA
Montana Festival of the Book
Location: Missoula
Date: September
Focusing on the region’s writers, this festival offering more than 50 events including readings, panels, exhibits, demonstrations, signings, workshops, entertainment, receptions. Special events include a Dictionary Define-a-Thon, staged readings, a book appraisal, an author’s reception and silent auction.

NEBRASKA
Nebraska Book Festival
Location: Lincoln
Date: October
Readings and presentations, book signings, poet sightings, photo exhibits, award ceremonies, aardvarks and String Beans, music and food, a film screening, and other fun activities for children and adults are what one can expect to find at this book festival. Oh, and books too.

NEVADA
Vegas Valley Book Festival
Location: Las Vegas
Date: November
Panel discussions, readings, exhibits, poetry and book signings, authors, writers’ workshops, art exhibits, spoken word performances and a massive book sale are all included in this book festival.

NEW HAMPSHIRE
Book ‘Em: Buy a Book and Stop a Crook
Location: Lebanon
Date: October
A unique idea for a book festival, but one that works extremely well! Its purpose is to raise funds for organizations dedicated to increasing literacy rates, decreasing crime rates, helping police solve crimes, and raising public awareness of the link between high illiteracy rates and high crime rates. The Lebanon Police Department is the primary host for this fair which features dozens of authors in many genres who talk about writing, the publishing industry and other topics of interests and entertainment for children.

Children's Literature Festival
Location: Keene
Date: October
This festival is a bit different, being a planned program where several speakers are the highlight of a day that also offers a lunch, author book sales (but no personal signings) and a end-of-the-day reception. Check the site for current costs.

NEW JERSEY
Collingswood Book Festival
Location: Collingswood
Date: October (every other year)
A week of activities lead up to this day-long festival which includes appearances by adult and children’s authors, poetry readings, and plenty of music and live theatre performances.

Dodge Poetry Festival
Location: Stanhope
Date: September/October
The largest poetry event in North America, this festival offers readings, music, stories, performances, conversations and more—all centered around poetry. The web site appears to have been last updated in 2006, but those interested might try contacting them at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

NEW MEXICO
Border Book Festival
Location: Mesilla
Date: April
This festival offers readings, school outreach visits, visits with the authors, a parade, a bazaar, talks and lectures, a gala dinner, award presentations, concerts, writing workshops and more.

NEW YORK
Brooklyn Book Festival
Location: Brooklyn
Date: September
A relatively new, but excellent addition, this full-day event offers numerous readings and panels, both indoor and outdoors, a children’s area, young writers’ pavilion, and more than 100 exhibitors with thousands of books, and a gala VIP event that evening.

Fort Greene Park Summer Literary Festival
Location: Brooklyn
Date: August
A different kind of book festival, this lit fest is the summer-end result of a six-week series of free creative writing workshops for various groups of people who, alongside literary icons, read their work. Its purpose is to give voice to groups who “have have been historically deprived of voice in our society.”

Great Read in the Park
Location: New York City
Date: October
Two great “reads” in one day. The first is free—a Great Children’s Read that takes place on the grounds of Columbia University and offers entertainment, a children’s bookstore, readings, signings and giveaways. The Great Literary Brunch is a somewhat costly but delightful time with six authors who talk about their books over a buffet lunch at the TimesCenter in the New York Times Building.

Harlem Book Fair
Location: Harlem
Date: July
A popular book festival that features African American authors, performers and offers a large variety of panel discussions, outdoor stage events, a young readers’ pavilion, book awards, an Author Lunch and Sunday Author Brunch and more. Beginning in 2008, they are also having an HBF/Bermuda Book Festival or as they term it, the “Harlem Book Fair on a Beach!”

New York Book Festival
Location: New York City
Date: June
This festival, which takes place near the Naumburg Bandshell in Central Park, offers author readings, book signings, vendor demonstrations, food, live music, and children’s entertainment including storytelling, clowns performing, doing face-painting and twisting balloon animals.

Rochester Children's Book Festival
Location: Rochester
Date: November
Held on the campus of Monroe Community College, this festival focuses on young readers from tots to teens. In addition to the usual activities of readings, signings, you’ll find author and illustrator presentations and demonstrations, a Read to Me Corner for the youngest readers, the One Busy Bookworm Place for pre-K and elementary school-age children, a Tween Time for those between the ages of nine and 13, and a special Just for Teens program.

Small Press Book Fair
Location: Manhattan
Date: December
The Center for Independent Publishing offers this special event to showcase more than 100 quality independent and small presses. The fair features a variety of panels, events and talks on contemporary events with emphasis on the publishing industry and literary trends.

NORTH CAROLINA
Novello Festival of Reading
Location: Charlotte
Date: October
“A festival celebrating books and learning” is the tagline for this two-week long fair which offers evenings with various authors, a Carolina Writers Night, a Book Brunch, a WordPlay Saturday, book signings and readings and more.