Posted on: 05/21/202405/21/2024
In today’s post, we’ll go through the list of book fairs and events that will take place in the US in 2024. If you are a fan of such events and have been curious about the next book fair in your area, we’ve prepared all the information you need to know.
Contents hide
1 What’s So Interesting about Book Fairs, Festivals, and Various Book Events?
2 Where Is It Convenient to Sell and Buy Books Online without Going to a Book Fair 2024?
3 The List of Book Fairs, Festivals, Conferences, and Other Events to Attend in the US in 2024 (by State)
3.1 Alabama
3.2 Arizona
3.3 California
3.4 Colorado
3.5 District of Columbia
3.6 Florida
3.7 Georgia
3.8 Illinois
3.9 Iowa
3.10 Louisiana
3.11 Maryland
3.12 Massachusetts
3.13 Michigan
3.14 Mississippi
3.15 Missouri
3.16 New Jersey
3.17 New York
3.18 North Carolina
3.19 Ohio
3.20 Oklahoma
3.21 Pennsylvania
3.22 South Carolina
3.23 South Dakota
3.24 Tennessee
3.25 Texas
3.26 Virginia
3.27 Washington
3.28 Wisconsin
4 Final Thoughts
What’s So Interesting about Book Fairs, Festivals, and Various Book Events?
Book fairs and events offer an opportunity to look through a great number of books, meet authors, and discuss your favorite pieces with other people. Besides, any book fair or festival is a place with a unique atmosphere, where everything is focused on books—just the way we like it!
These are places where readers can meet and talk to authors; these are also the places where authors, publishers, book scouts, and booksellers come to network. Authors can promote their books and communicate with readers and get excellent opportunities for networking with publishers, book scouts can find undervalued or overlooked books, and booksellers, in turn, can then resell those unique, hard-to-find books to customers. Besides, most book fairs and festivals offer all sorts of panels, workshops, and seminars for everyone interested.
Where Is It Convenient to Sell and Buy Books Online without Going to a Book Fair 2024?
While attending all these book events can be real fun, sometimes you simply don’t have the time to go to the nearest bookstore, let alone travel even as far as a neighboring city to to attend a conference. (By the way, we have a few recommendations regarding the best bookstores in Virginia and the best bookstores in Texas if you live somewhere in the area).
Luckily, you can buy used books cheaply, not only at a book fair but also online. There are plenty of online booksellers nowadays, and you can just pick the one you like most. From Amazon and eBay to independent bookselling platforms like BooksRun, you’re free to choose any that offers the best price and quality.
While book fairs and other book events are popular among readers, authors, publishing and library sector workers as much as among booksellers and seasoned book scouts, they are hardly the best places to get rid of the books you don’t need. If you want to sell old books, you can offer them to brick-and-mortar bookstores nearby. Most local Half Price Books stores have a buyback program of sorts where they accept used books for cash or store credit, and so do plenty of independent bookstores. Here, you can learn where to sell used books in New York. If you live and want to sell used textbooks in Los Angeles, here are your seven best options.
Alternatively, you can do things faster and more effectively. Nowadays, you can sell books online. It’s convenient, there’s usually free shipping, and most vendors have more than good prices. Take BooksRun, for instance. You get the best quotes and are paid as soon as your books arrive at their warehouse. If you’re a seasoned seller and have many items, you can become a marketplace seller. We have a full guide on How to Sell Books Online: A Checklist for a New Marketplace. You’re welcome to check it.
The List of Book Fairs, Festivals, Conferences, and Other Events to Attend in the US in 2024 (by State)
We’ve listed the book events by state for your convenience, and since it’s already May, we’ll be giving the exact dates of the upcoming events only. However, we provide brief descriptions of all the annual events for your reference.
Alabama
| Monroeville Literary Festival Monroeville, Alabama | This book festival lasts for two days and offers all visitors the chance to “explore the writing, music, and art of the literary South.” |
Arizona
| Tucson Festival of Books Tucson, Arizona | The Tucson Festival of Books (TFoB) was founded fifteen years ago to celebrate literature, and now, it’s one of the largest book festivals in the US. It’s free for all visitors. |
| Northern Arizona Book Festival Flagstaff, Arizona | The Northern Arizona Book Festival (NOAZBF) was founded as a literary nonprofit in 1997. Its mission is to foster a “literary community through the creation, publication, showcase, and investigation of contemporary literary arts from Northern Arizona, the Colorado Plateau, the American Southwest, and beyond.” |
California
| Rancho Mirage Writers Festival February 5–7, 2025 Rancho Mirage, California | “America’s Best Writers Festival,” an annual book festival in Rancho Mirage, gathers all the prominent writers and offers a fantastic program with diverse topics, from politics to fiction. |
| San Francisco Writers Conference February 6–9, 2025 San Francisco, California | SFWC is a four-day paid event in the Bay Area that features authors, presenters, editors, agents, and publishing industry professionals. |
| WonderCon March 28–30, 2025 Anaheim, California | WonderCon is held by the Comic-Con International company. It takes place every year in spring in Anaheim, California, and offers a variety of comics, original art, toys, and comics-related merchandise. |
| Los Angeles Times Festival of Books Los Angeles, California | This book festival is held on the USC campus; the general admission is free. If you want to visit events featuring authors and celebrities, you can also buy special festival tickets. |
| Black Writers On Tour Los Angeles, California | The mission of this book event is to give exposure to African-American authors and writers. |
| Bay Area Book Festival May 4, 2024 Berkeley, California | The Bay Area Book Festival has been held for more than two decades. It focuses on justice, inclusivity, diversity and a broad range of other topics, “We believe books, and smart conversations about them, build bridges. At a time when so much divides us, we close the gap with programming that opens minds and hearts.” |
| ALA Annual Conference & Exhibition June 27, 2024–July 2, 2024 San Diego, California | This book conference brings together library professionals, educators, authors, and publishers every year. The focus on special programming for library professionals makes this book event stand out. |
Colorado
| Rocky Mountain Book and Paper Fair August 17–August 18, 2024 Castle Rock, Colorado | Rocky Mountain Antiquarian Booksellers Association (RMABA) is an organization of “rare book, map, and ephemera dealers in the Rocky Mountain West.” They promote book collection and ethical trade and provide educational opportunities for collectors and the public. They have been holding the largest book and paper fair in the Rocky Mountain region for more than 40 years. |
| Left Coast Crime March 13–16, 2025Denver, Colorado | Left Coast Crime is a mystery convention devoted entirely to the mystery and crime fiction genres. This book event is held every year and sponsored by mystery fans. The 2025 convention will take place in Denver, Colorado. It welcomes everyone: readers, authors, librarians, bloggers, publishers, editors, agents, and booksellers. |
District of Columbia
| Library of Congress National Book Festival August 24, 2024 Washington, DC, District of Columbia | The Library of Congress organizes a free book event every year. It’s open to the public and features authors, poets, and illustrators who give talks, take part in panel discussions, hold book signings, etc. It’s a great book event for book lovers. |
Florida
| Sunshine State Book Festival January 31–February 1, 2025 Gainesville, Florida | It’s an annual literary event that celebrates learning, literacy, the connection between readers and writers, and Florida’s literary history and culture. |
| ReadOut: A Festival of LGBTQ Literature St. Petersburg, Florida | If you would like to visit an event that celebrates LGBTQ+ literature and authors, we recommend the ReadOUT Festival. This annual event usually features presentations, author talks, etc. The 2024 festival was the 7th so far held by the LGBTQ Resource Center. |
| F.R.E.S.H. Book Film Festival Daytona Beach, Florida | The F.R.E.S.H. Book Festival gathers authors, editors, and filmmakers to talk about their books and upcoming projects. |
| Tallahassee Bicentennial Antiquarian Book Fair Tallahassee, Florida | In 2024, the book fair was held in conjunction with Tallahassee’s bicentennial celebration. It combined 25 antiquarian book dealers, books, maps, documents, postcards, art, prints, and so on under the roof of Tallahassee Elks Lodge. |
| Florida Antiquarian Book Fair March 1–2, 2025 St. Petersburg, Florida | Florida Antiquarian Book Fair will gather “dozens of independent booksellers from all over the country.” Truly, one of the oldest and largest antiquarian book fairs in the region, it’s a must-visit event for all book lovers of old and rare books. |
| Southwest Florida Reading Festival Fort Myers, Florida | Great book event for any book lover. You can buy books, and you can also get them signed by authors. Also, the 2024 festival featured book and educational vendors offering their services. |
| Venice Book Fair and Writers Festival Venice, Florida | This annual book event, which takes place in a beautiful downtown park in Venice, Florida, raises funds for local historic preservation efforts. It usually offers writing and publishing workshops and a festival market where authors sell and sign books. |
Georgia
| Savannah Book Festival February 6–9, 2025 Savannah, Georgia | The mission of this annual four-day book festival is to “promote reading, writing and civil conversation.” They usually offer three ticketed Headliner Address events and one free Festival Saturday. |
| Dahlonega Literary Festival Dahlonega, Georgia | The Dahlonega Literary Festival is an all-volunteer book festival held in Dahlonega, Georgia, each March. Currently, it welcomes nationally known authors who write in various genres. It also co-sponsors the North Georgia Regional Book Fair for regionally known authors. |
| North Georgia Regional Book Fair September 14, 2024 Dahlonega, Georgia | It’s a large-scale book fair held by the Dahlonega Literary Festival steering committee, the University of North Georgia’s Department of English, and the UNG Press. Aimed to become an annual event in the future, this book fair will host about fifty authors. They’ll be able to meet readers and sell their books for $50 per table. |
| National Book Club Conference August 2–August 4, 2024 Atlanta, Georgia | The National Book Club Conference (NBCC) is a place to meet your favorite writers and discuss book and publishing topics, from the dynamics of the publishing industry to the ways of publishing a book. A deposit is required to register and secure your place at the conference. |
Illinois
| C2E2 April 11–13, 2025 Chicago, Illinois | Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo is a “comic, cosplay, gaming, wrestling, anime pop culture convention.” You’re welcome to join either virtually or in person. |
Iowa
| DSM Moines Book Festival October 19, 2024 Des Moines, Iowa | In 2024, Beaverdale Books will be hosting the 2024 DSM Book Festival—a book event dedicated to books and book lovers. |
Louisiana
| The New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane University March 27–29, 2025 New Orleans, Louisiana | The New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane University is an annual literary event. It’s free and open to the public, and you can expect over 100 different authors and exhibitors. |
Maryland
| The Library Learning Experience (LibLearnX) January 24–27, 2025 Baltimore, Maryland | LibLearnX is a book conference for library professionals that includes workshops, sessions, and meetings with authors and experts. Its goal is to celebrate the impact of libraries and promote the library industry. |
| Annapolis Book Festival Annapolis, Maryland | The Annapolis Book Festival is an annual book event where you can meet with authors, get yourself new reads, and have a great time. The event is free, and there are plenty of activities both for adults and kids. Bookworms, don’t miss it! |
| Gaithersburg Book Festival May 18, 2024 Gaithersburg, Maryland | The Gaithersburg Book Festival is “a celebration of books, writers & literary excellence.” It’s one of the largest book fairs and author events, offering various workshops and activities for adults and kids, book signing, and a book sale. A great place to visit if you like books and want to connect with authors. |
Massachusetts
| Newburyport Literary Festival Newburyport, Massachusetts | The annual festival is held and supported by the Newburyport Literary Association (2005) and its sponsors. The event celebrates literature, from fiction to non-fiction, and offers all sorts of activities, such as author readings and book signings. |
| Nantucket Book Festival June 13–16, 2024 Nantucket, Massachusetts | The Nantucket Book Festival is an annual book event that celebrates literature and brings together authors, book lovers, and storytellers. “Each June, we watch stories come to life on Nantucket.” Founded in 2012, the festival welcomes authors and book lovers every year and will continue to “celebrate the power of the written word” in the future. |
Michigan
| Hustle & Grind Urban Literary Convention June 8, 2024 Detriot, Michigan | The Hustle & Grind Urban Literary Convention is an annual book event devoted to urban literature and culture in Detroit, Michigan. You can meet with authors, especially those who specialize in urban literature, visit vendor booths, listen to live music, and enjoy street food. |
Mississippi
| Oxford Conference for the Book Oxford, Mississippi | The Oxford Conference for the Book has been held since 1993. It’s an annual book event that usually lasts two days and offers a range of activities, such as panel discussions and lectures, with the key topics being “literacy, freedom of expression, and the book trade in the South.“ |
Missouri
| Unbound Book Festival Columbia, Missouri | The Unbound Book Festival gathers internationally popular authors to talk about their books and work. What else can be expected at this annual festival? Poetry readings, special events, panel discussions, book signings, and writing workshops. In 2024, Emily St. John Mandel was the event’s keynote speaker. |
| Greater St. Louis Book Fair May 2–5, 2024 St. Louis, Missouri | Most of the book festivals and fairs we’ve listed feature current authors and their books. However, we surely couldn’t ignore the Greater St. Louis Book Fair, one of the oldest and largest book sales! It’s a fantastic annual charity book sale and a paradise for book scouts and resellers. All sorts of new, gently-used, and rare books can be found there, as well as comics, magazines, DVDs, CDs, vinyl records, and whatnot. |
New Jersey
| Montclair Literary Festival April 27–May 4, 2024 Montclair, New Jersey | The Montclair Literary Festival offers more than forty different activities that book lovers can attend for free. From author talks and book discussions to student readings and discussion panels, both adults and their kids can find the activities for their taste at the festival. |
| Morristown Festival of Books October 18–19, 2024 Morristown, New Jersey | The Morristown Festival of Books (MFOB) is one of the top book events nationwide, featuring author in-person talks, book signings, and a variety of activities for two days that the festival lasts. It’s a great place where readers and authors can meet. |
New York
| Digital Book World New York, New York | Digital Book World was planned for January 15–17, 2024; however, it hasn’t taken place until now. “Digital Book World 2024 is POSTPONED. More information will be forthcoming after the first of the year.” It’s a famous conference with a focus on digital content and publishing innovations. All sorts of professionals from the publishing sector are expected to discuss how technology is changing. |
| National Black Writers Conference Brooklyn, New York | The 17th National Black Writers Conference welcomed more than fifty renowned writers who discussed the relevancy and the pressing concerns of Black Literature. The event is public and is held every year, so you can add it to your calendar and visit the next year’s conference. |
| New York Antiquarian Book Fair April 3–6, 2025 New York, New York | The New York International Antiquarian Book Fair is considered “the world’s leading antiquarian book fair in its 60+ years of existence.” The next year’s fair will feature nearly 200 exhibitors from 15 countries and include all sorts of rare books, manuscripts, maps, as well as historical documents, memorabilia, ephemera, and so much more. It’s a total must-visit for all rare book collectors and enthusiasts. |
| ThrillerFest May 28–June 1, 2024 New York, New York | ThrillerFest is one of the most prominent annual conferences for thriller writers, industry professionals, and bookworms. The conference is organized by the International Thriller Writers organization, and they’re expecting “a blockbuster line-up this year.” So, if you love thrillers and mysteries, you shouldn’t miss it (regardless of the paid entrance). |
| The Bronx Book Festival June 5–9, 2024 Bronx, New York | The Bronx Book Festival is an annual festival devoted to books, reading, and the Bronx itself. They start with Literacy Day, then move on to Annual Educator Day, then hold a kickoff party, and close the festival with Festival Day. We are sure this book event will exceed your expectations. |
| Kwame Alexander Writers’ Lab & Conference at Chautauqua Institution June 18–21, 2024 Chautauqua, New York | The Kwame Alexander Writers’ Lab & Conference is a four-day event where you can attend master classes with famous writers, listen to featured speakers, participate in panel discussions, and have an opportunity to meet and connect with various publishers and agents. It’s not exactly the book event for book lovers but rather for authors and aspiring writers. |
| Black Authors Festival August 3, 2024 New York, New York | The Black Authors Festival invites you to “celebrate the power of words and Black authors.” It’s an annual book event where you can attend panel discussions, writing workshops, and talks. They also promise red carpet and live music. The mission of the festival is to give writers of African American descent more tools to write and publish their own stories, promote literacy, and eliminate illiteracy, especially in the Black community. |
| African American Literary Awards Show October 5, 2024 New York, New York | The African American Literary Awards Show was founded by Yvette Hayward in 2004. At that time, it was one of the first events of the kind, but now it’s an annual book show that celebrates excellence in Black literature. Its goal is to show appreciation to African-American writers and engage more African American readers. |
North Carolina
| Queen City Book Fair May 18, 2024 Charlotte, North Carolina | The Queen City Book Fair invites you to the book festival for all book lovers, both fiction and non-fiction fans: “This is a must-attend event for anyone who appreciates a good book.” You’ll be able to meet authors, get the books signed, buy books, and participate in various book-related activities. |
| Carolina Mountains Literary Festival September 5–7, 2024 Burnsville, North Carolina | The Carolina Mountains Literary Festival celebrates literacy and the love of reading in the Southern Appalachian region. This three-day event will start with a free all-ages performance by poets, authors, and presenters and then move on to the main festival program. The main theme of the 2024 festival is “JOINING VOICES.” |
Ohio
| Ohioana Book Festival Columbus, Ohio | The Ohioana Book Festival celebrateы Ohio’s rich literary heritage and gives readers an opportunity to connect with their favorite authors. If you live in Ohio, we recommend visiting this book event, as it’s considered one of the best. In 2024, it welcomed over 120 authors and illustrators, so make sure you add it to your calendar next year. |
| When I See Me BIPOC Children’s Book Fair July 27, 2024 Dayton, Ohio | It’s essential for kids to see themselves reflected in the books they read; however, we apparently don’t see enough Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) characters in kids’ books. To help address this gap, the When I See Me BIPOC Children’s Book Fair was created. This book event wants to encourage and support kids and make them curious about the world by showing them books with diverse characters. For an entire day, you can visit all sorts of activities together with your kids, from author signings to giveaways. |
Oklahoma
| Tulsa Lit Fest Thursday, April 18, 2024 Tulsa, Oklahoma | The Tulsa LitFest is a relatively new book fest that celebrates all things books and literature. It was organized by the Center for Poets and Writers at OSU-Tulsa, together with Fulton Street Books and Whitty Books. It offered author readings, book signings, workshops, and craft talks for aspiring writers. In 2024, it took place on April 18, 2024; however, it’s expected to be an annual event, so stay tuned for updates. |
Pennsylvania
| Indie Authors Book Fair August 10, 2024 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | The Indie Authors Book Fair invites all independent and self-published authors to “Unlock the Power of Your Pen at the Independent Authors Book Fair! This book fair is an annual event where indie authors and readers meet. The event usually features book readings and signings, as well as literary workshops. Authors get an opportunity to sell their works, and readers—a fantastic experience. There will also be a Children’s Corner for young readers. |
| Books Books Books September 21, 2024 Lancaster, Pennsylvania | Books Books Books is a book festival that takes place in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, every year. It’s “an author-signing event that is open to all genres.” For only $5, you can enter the event and get a cool tote for all the books you’ll probably buy there. The event expects over 125 authors and a lot of book lovers, of course. |
| African American Children’s Book Fair February 3, 2025 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | The African American Children’s Book Fair aims to promote children’s books by Black authors and illustrators. We recommend visiting the Pennsylvania Convention Center to get a book or two and maybe have them signed by authors. It’s free, so you can go by yourself or take your kids too. |
South Carolina
| Go On Girl! Book Club Author Awards Weekend June 7–9, 2024 Charleston, South Carolina | Go On Girl! Book Club Author Awards Weekend is one more event on our list that celebrates African American literature. It’s organized by the Go On Girl! Book Club, one of the largest national reading groups with the mission to “expose the African-American Diaspora to literature written by people of Black African descent.” Each year, winning authors are selected from the club’s reading list and are invited to receive their awards in person. |
South Dakota
| South Dakota Festival of Books September 20–22, 2024 Brookings & Sioux Falls, South Dakota | The South Dakota Festival of Books is the place where the best regional and national writers and book lovers meet and communicate during author presentations, panel discussions, book signings, and other special events. If you live in South Dakota, don’t forget to mark your calendars for this literary event. |
Tennessee
| Bouchercon, the World Mystery Convention August 28–September 1, 2024 Nashville, Tennessee | Mystery lovers, it’s your time! Don’t miss one of the coolest mystery and detective fiction events of the year—Bouchercon. Named after Anthony Boucher, a writer, reviewer, and editor in the mystery genre, this massive book convention is hosted in a different city every year. The 2024 event (its 55th edition, by the way) will take place in Nashville, Tennessee, and include author panels and discussions, book signings, and the annual Anthony Awards given to the most prominent works of crime fiction. |
Texas
| San Antonio Book Festival San Antonio, Texas | “The San Antonio Book Festival unites readers and writers in a celebration of ideas, books, libraries, and literary culture.” It’s an annual free literary event with plenty of literary activities such as panel discussions, book signings, a book fair, and even a food truck. This book festival was first held in 2013 and has been loved and visited by thousands of book lovers ever since. |
| Texas Library Association Conference April 1–4, 2025 Dallas, Texas | TLA Conference is the annual event organized by the Texas Library Association. Its goal is to promote literacy in Texas by strengthening the library community and providing additional educational opportunities for library professionals. You can expect various talks, exhibitions, workshops, and other activities. Registration will open in the fall of 2024, so if you live in Texas and work in the library field, make sure you add it to your calendar. |
| North Texas Teen Book Festival Irving, Texas | The North Texas Teen Book Festival (NTTBF) is all about teen literature. The 2024 festival took place in April and featured over 70 YA authors and thousands of visitors. Next year, you can surely expect author panels, great discussions, book signings, and so much more—”in a safe and fun environment.” It’s a free, one-day book festival, and we’re positive your kids will love it. |
| Greater Austin Book Festival May 11, 2024 Austin, Texas | The Greater Austin Book Festival is organized by the Writers’ League of Texas. Its main goal is to connect authors, illustrators, and readers of the region through engaging activities, such as author panels (for example, you can join Horror & Thriller or Historical Fiction panel discussions), book signings, and author readings (e.g., storytime with Vanessa Roeder or reading by Adrianna Cuevas), and so much more. |
| Austin African American Book Festival June 29, 2024 Austin, Texas | The first Austin African American Book Festival was held in 2007. In 2024, it will be held for the seventeenth time and is bound to attract plenty of attendees. The book event aims to promote African American literature and the love of reading, as well as give Black authors (both nationally recognized and local and regional writers) a platform to present themselves and their works. |
| National Black Book Festival October 17–19, 2024 Houston, Texas | The National Black Book Festival (NBBF) takes place every year at Fallbrook Church in Houston. It’s sponsored by Cushcity, an online resource that promotes African-American authors and literature. During the three days of the festival, you can expect diverse activities, such as author book signings, discussions and presentations, free workshops and seminars, and a Children’s Festival, to name a few. |
| Texas Book Festival November 16–17, 2024 Austin, Texas | The Texas Book Festival offers a broad range of book-related activities and a special “Saturday night Lit Crawl.” It’s a free annual event, so everyone is welcome. |
Virginia
| Virginia Festival of the Book Charlottesville, Virginia | The Virginia Festival of the Book has celebrated its thirtieth year this March and has great plans for the future. The event aims to bring together writers and readers “to promote and celebrate books, reading, literacy, and literary culture.” The festival offers a diverse range of activities, presentations, and discussions every year, so stay tuned for the announcement of next year’s dates! |
Washington
| Norwescon SeaTac, Washington | Norwescon is the “premier science fiction and fantasy convention” in the Pacific Northwest and one of the largest such conventions in the US. It dates back to 1978 and takes place in SeaTac, Washington, every year. You can expect all sorts of activities related to the topics of fantasy and science fiction, including events like the Masquerade, the Philip K. Dick Awards, dances, concerts, and even an art show. |
Wisconsin
| Great Midwest Book Fest June 22, 2024 Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Great Midwest Book Fest will take place in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, this June. It’s an annual book event hosted by UrbanReviewsOnline, a resource devoted to all things African-American fiction. The fest will welcome 10 to 12 authors working in different genres and book lovers interested in African American literature. |
Final Thoughts
We hope you find today’s list of book events informative and useful. There are so many different literary fairs and festivals taking place in the US every year that we’re positive you’ll find the event for your taste and have a great time there. We also hope you find our recommendations on how to buy and sell books helpful.
