Ohio - Wyoming
OHIO
Akron Antiquarian Book Fair
Location: Akron
Date: April 2-3, 2010
Old & Rare,” it proclaims, “Readable & Collectible; Books, Maps & Prints.” These are what the sixty dealers who will be attending the book fair will be bringing with them to share and to sale. Even if you don’t buy, there is a lot of fun to be had in looking, Admission is three dollars.
Books by the Banks
Location: Cincinnati
Date: October 2. 2010
More than fifty authors who write fiction, nonfiction, young adult, children’s and more will be there to share their thoughts in panel presentations and solo talks. A Target Kids’ Corner will offer crafts and reading time.
Buckeye Book Fair
Location: Wooster
Date: November 6, 2010
Writers, illustrators and authors all show up here to talk with visitors and sign their books in this one day even that raises funds for literacy programs. Looks like fun!
Spring Literary Festival
Location: Athens
Date: May 5-7, 2010
This annual festival, held on the Ohio University campus, features some of the world’s finest writers of poetry, fiction, and nonfiction in reading and lecture appearances.
OKLAHOMA
Mildred Laughlin Festival of Books for Young People
Location: Norman
Date: October 28, 2010 (even years only)
Despite its name, this all-day event of author and illustrator talks, book sales and signings, and professional networking is a specialized festival for adults personally or professionally interested in children’s books.
Red Dirt Book Festival
Location: Shawnee
Date: November, 2011
With nearly 50 free workshops, panel discussions and programs that explore the ways Oklahoma character is reflected in recent literature, this festival is a fantastic journey into the world of writers, writing and books. And it’s all free except for the lunches and special evening event. An excellent weekend for both readers and writers.
OREGON
Wordstock
Location: Portland
Date: October 7-10, 2010
Where else but the city that is home to the world’s largest independent used and new bookstore (hint: Powell’s) could a festival as great as this reside? With more than 100 booths, 200 authors, eight stages, workshops, readings, signings, music food, children’s events, a Wordstock for Writers, Wordstock for Teachers and more (and even more pre-festival events such as the Night of Literary Feasts), this fair promises and delivers a lot!
PENNSYLVANIA
Capital BookFest
Location: Harrisburg
Date: September 18, 2010
From 10:00 am to 6:00 pm at the State Museum, more than four dozen authors will be appearing on panels, discussions, as well as offering storytelling and presentations while exhibitors show off their wares. This is a multi-state festival that in 2010 will also appear in Largo, Maryland on October 2, and in Charleston, South Carolina on November 6.
Free Library Festival
Location: Philadelphia
Date: April 17-18, 2010
This two-day celebration of books, music, people and ideas includes appearances by celebrity authors, children’s special programs, live music and other performances, a street fair, a literary marketplace, and more than 100 exhibitors including publishers, booksellers, independent authors, and cultural organizations.
RHODE ISLAND
Rhode Island Festival of Children’s Books & Authors
Location: Providence
Date: October 16, 2010
Lincoln School hosts this annual event where authors and illustrators talk about their craft and sign books, and bookmaking and other crafts booths make for a fun day.
SOUTH CAROLINA
South Carolina Book Festival
Location: Columbia
Date: May 14-15, 2011
A full weekend event, this festival features a Book Club Morning Toast, Brunching With Authors, author panels and presentations, poetry readings and nearly 150 vendors.
Capital BookFest
Location: Charleston
Date: November 6, 2010
From 10:00 am to 7:00 pm in downtown Charleston, nearly seventy-five authors will share their enthusiasm for the written word via panels, presentations and conversations; vendors will also be there with their bookish wares. At the time of writing, the schedule wasn’t yet available so be sure to check the website for details.
SOUTH DAKOTA
South Dakota Festival of Books
Location: Deadwood
Date: September 24-26, 2010
Receptions, book signings, a Literary Feast, a wide variety of panels and presentations, a Signature Event, late night ghost stories, a Gathering of Native Voices and more offered in the historic town of Deadwood make this a particularly special festival.
TENNESSEE
Southern Festival of Books
Location: Nashville
Date: October 8-10, 2010
A three-day literary festival that gathers together more than 200 authors covering every genre, offers panel discussions, readings and book signings, includes more than 50 book-related exhibitors, a cooking stage and two performance stages, and special children’s events with book characters.
Tennessee Antiquarian Book Fair
Location: Cowan
Date: July 16-17, 2011
This antiquarian book fair offers visitors the chance to have up to three books appraised as part of their admission (five dollars). With more than two dozen booksellers in attendance, the opportunity to chat with and view extraordinary books--even if you can't afford them--is something not to be missed. The joy of seeing lovely editions is well worth it.
TEXAS
Austin Book, Paper & Photo Show
Location: Austin
Date: January 15-16, 2011
Interested in used, rare or collectible books, or ephemera? Perhaps Texana, cookery, fine bindings, first editions, postcards or other literary interests would entice you to this show where you can buy or just feast your eyes.
Austin Jewish Community Book Fair
Location: Austin
Date: November 11-21, 2010
This festival features author lectures and discussions, catered events, the annual Book Lover’s Luncheon, and Kids Day at the J.
Houston Book, Paper & Postcard Show
Location: Houston
Date: October 23-24, 2010
If you are interested in used, rare and collectible Books, ephemera, or other paper collectible, this two-day fair is an excellent place to enjoy and to buy. Admission is five dollars.
Latino Book & Family Festival
Location: Houston
Date: September 18-19, 2010
Co-hosted by actor and activist Edward James Olmos, these are an incredible event that include 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.
North Texas Book & Paper Show
Location: Fort Worth
Date: October 2-3, 2010
If you are interested in used, rare and collectible Books, ephemera, or other paper collectible, this two-and-a-half-day fair is an excellent place to enjoy and to buy. Admission is five dollars.
North Texas Book Festival
Location: Denton
Date: April 16-17, 2010
A Book Trails Dinner, authors, book signings and special children’s programs are what this small, but quality festival offers. It’s certainly worth checking out.
Texas Book Festival
Location: Austin
Date: October 16-17, 2010
This festival is somewhat unusual in that it takes place at the state capitol. It features a lovely opening event, a First Editions Literary Gala, the Reading Rock Stars program and an opening ceremony along with the usual offerings of authors, panels, workshops, readings, signings, vendors and stage entertainment. Check the web site for details.
Texas Cowboy Poetry Gathering
Location: Alpine
Date: February 25-27, 2011
Cowboys! Cowgirls! Poetry.! They all come together at this annual event that celebrates the best of written and spoken words on the Old West. Events include a Chuckwagon Breakfast, poetry and music, stage performaces, and a Cowboy Church Service.
Way Out West Texas Book Festival
Location: Alpine
Date: July 29-30, 2010
This festival, hosted by the Rotary Club and benefiting the Alpine Public Library, offers two days of literary events including a special opening night Meet-and-Greet with entertainment, and on Saturday authors who have written books on Texas themes will be featured speakers on panels and in conversations. Book signings and sales will also be part of this free day.
West Texas Book & Music Festival
Location: Abilene
Date: September 20-25, 2010
Featuring a Books & Books Luncheon, a Cookbook Gala and the Abilene Book Awards as well as author and writer panels and presentations, receptions, brown bag and Authors in Schools programs and more, this festival is a winner.
UTAH
St. George Book Festival
Location: St. George
Date: October 21-24, 2009
A relatively new festival, it is best to use the email address listed at this address to get more information. But they do promise panels, workshops, book sales and signings, scrapbooking, hands-on activities for children, a Rare Book Roadshow, and much more.
Utah Humanities Book Festival
Location: Salt Lake City
Date: October 20-23, 2010
This festival has events happening around the entire state rather than in one location. They also have some rather unusual events including the Utah Literary Awards, concerts, interviews, panels, readings, performances, book sales and signings, letterpress printing, bookmaking and papermaking, hands-on activities for children, rare book appraisals, a Day of the Dead Authors (sitting among the tombstones of their favorite dead children’s authors while reading), a Define-a-Thon and more.
VERMONT
Battleboro Literary Festival
Location: Battleboro
Date: October 1-3, 2010
A three-day literary celebration, the Festival includes readings, panel discussions, and special events, featuring almost three dozen emerging and established authors.
Vermont Summer Book Fair
Location: Woodstock
Date: August 15, 2010
This is an opportunity to see and buy rare and collectible books, antique maps and prints, and literary-related ephemera from forty of the best eastern-located dealers. In addition, bookbinder Malcolm Summers will be showing off his fine work.
VIRGINIA
Book ‘Em: Buy a Book and Stop a Crook
Location: Waynesboro
Date: October 16, 2010
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 Waynesboro 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.
Fall for the Book Festival
Location: Fairfax
Date: September 19-24. 2010
This week-long event includes lectures, talks, receptions, readings, a used book sale, music, children’s entertainment, all of which revolve around writing, reading, books, current events and more.
Lex Allen Literary Festival
Location: Roanoke
Date: March 6, 2010
Readings and a poetry panel along with the awarding of poetry and fiction prizes to students highlight this literary day of interest.
Malice Domestic
Location: Arlington
Date: April 30-May 2, 2010
This is a three-day convention that brings together the readers and writers of the “traditional” mystery—those which contain no explicit sex or excessive violence, and usually feature an amateur detective, a confined setting and characters who know one another. In addition to author panels, presentations and signings, they have two auctions (one live, one silent) with proceeds going to a local charity,
Virginia Festival of the Book
Location: Charlottesville
Date: March 16-20, 2011
Five days of literary events offers more than 300 authors and 200 events including special luncheons, a breakfast, an authors’ reception, author readings and presentations, panels and workshops, a Storyfest and Kids’ Book Swap and more.
WASHINGTON
Get Lit!
Location: Spokane and Cheney
Date: April 14-20, 2010
Running more than a week, Get Lit! offers Milk Crate Readings, poetry slams, lectures, Writers in the Schools Day, and on the primary weekend, author panels and readings, book signings, writing workshops and panels and much more.
Rainbow Bookfest
Location: Seattle
Date: September 25, 2010
This festival celebrates multiculturalism and authors of color who represent “the history, culture, conflicts and dynamic nature of America.”
Seattle Antiquarian Book Fair
Location: Seattle
Date: October 9-10, 2010
This Pacific Northwest antiquarian book fair will have almost 100 dealers in rare and collectible books as well as five specialists in book arts. This fair also hosts a Book Fair Dinner with featured speaker and cartography authority, Derek Hayes; reservations are required. You can keep up with the goings on via their blog.
WASHINGTON D.C.
Multicultural Children’s Book Festival
Location: Washington, D.C.
Date: September 11, 2010
An afternoon event of readings by authors, illustrators and guest celebrities, book signings, and other interactive performances and events.
National Book Festival
Location: Washington, D.C.
Date: September 25, 2010
More than seventy authors, illustrators and poets will fill seven pavilions— Children; Teens & Children; Fiction & Fantasy; Mysteries & Thrillers; History & Biography; Home & Family; and Poetry—during this day that celebrates literacy and reading. Attendees will also have the opportunity to have books signed, meet storybook characters, enjoy interactive family-centered activities and, unique to this festival, offer a variety of ways for people around the country to participate in it via the Internet.
WEST VIRGINIA
Ohio River Festival of Books
Location: Huntington
Date: April 10-18, 2010
This festival includes panel discussions, plenty of exhibitors, children’s entertainment and a special author luncheon.
West Virginia Book Festival
Location: Charleston
Date: October 16-17, 2010
Authors, publishers, book vendors, the Festival Marketplace, a special section just for children, a used book sale, Meet the Author events, workshops and panel discussions highlight this book festival.
WISCONSIN
Wisconsin Book Festival
Location: Madison
Date: September 29-October 3, 2010
From Wednesday noon to Sunday evening, this festival presents a wide variety of events—lectures, talks, readings, book sale, exhibit openings, author presentations, book awards, a Food and Wine Reception and more.
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