Authors as well as readers can benefit immensely from the literary festivals held across the United States. They offer readers the chance to meet some renowned authors. Besides, they get an opportunity to hear what the authors have to say and know about their upcoming books. Most of these festivals won’t cost you anything.
Such festivals also have some exciting events, such as contests, debates, book signings, and kids’ activities. If you wish to attend any of these events, you must make all the inquiries ahead of your visit. Now, let’s take a look at some of the best book festivals in the United States:
1. Boston Book Festival
This event falls in October in Boston’s popular shopping and dining destination, Back Bay. This is a free annual book festival, which is organized by a non-profit group of the same name. The group was founded in the year 2009 with the intention to promote a culture of reading. It also includes speaker presentations in Back Bay Events Center, Boston Public Library, and other locations.
Copley Square hosts the street festival and features live activities for the participants and their families. Boston Book Festival also has writing contests and workshops, programs for kids, and many other activities. This book festival is a culmination of literary events happening throughout the year.
2. Bay Area Book Festival
This book festival hosts literary sessions that present some of the leading authors from different parts of the world. It was established in 2015 and also includes an outdoor fair that feature a large number of literary exhibitors. The Bay Area Book Festival is among the major literary events of the world. It goes on for two days every year in Berkeley, California.
The book festival also includes events for kids, writing contests, and a mini film festival. It transforms the lively downtown of the city into a literary heaven for two days. Writers, readers, creators, and thinkers of all age groups and interests can also meet kindred spirits at the event.
3. Texas Book Festival
The Texas Book Festival was established by Margaret Farabee and Laura Bush in the year 1995. Its main purpose was to benefit the public library system of Texas. The intention was also to honor the authors of the state and to promote reading. It attracts major bestselling authors and award-winners of the country.
The focus is more on the nationally-known writers.
One of the major book festivals in the United States, it also hosts over 250 authors annually. More than 40,000 individuals attend this festival. Every year, one of the writers gets the ‘Bookend Award’.
This is for outstanding contribution to the literature of this American state. The Texas Book Festival also hosts book signings, author readings, panel discussions, presentations, and many other activities.
4. Summer Words
Summer Words is an annual six-day literary festival of Aspen, Colorado. It is an event of Aspen Words and Aspen Institute. This is among the most respected literary events and writing conferences in the United States. Aspiring authors can attend advanced workshops with renowned authors to develop a manuscript.
They can also attend introductory workshops to improve their craft of writing. Besides, they can also meet editors and literary agents and attend public panel discussions. Readings, receptions, and the Aspen Words Annual Benefit Dinner happen in the evenings.
