Hi Matt, et. al.,

The Connecticut State Library and the CT Center for the Book from CT Humanities will be staffing a Connecticut booth at the Pavilion of the States at the National Book Festival in Washington, DC. I’ve helped staff the booth the past 2 years and will be doing so again this year. From what I’ve seen, most author talks draw very good crowds. I know that we are very busy at the booth in the Pavilion.

The National Book Festival is held at the Washington Convention Center and events are indoors. All events are free. If you go to the National Book Festival, be sure to stop by the Connecticut booth and say hi.

Cathy mentioned the Boston (MA) Book Festival, which will be taking place Oct. 23-24. (Friday the 23^rd is the kickoff and I believe that most of the events will take place on Saturday, Oct. 24.) More on it at:

http://www.bostonbookfest.org/

Most events free. While there are events for kids and teens, Boston had a special festival for kids, called the “Hubbub” on a Saturday this past June. More on it at:

http://hubbubfest.org/ 

There’s also the Brooklyn (NY) Book Festival, which will be taking place on Sunday, Sept. 20. More on it at:

http://www.brooklynbookfestival.org/

Events are free. New this year: Brooklyn Book Festival is having a Children’s Day on Saturday, Sept. 19.

I enjoy the Boston and Brooklyn festivals. I attended the Boston Book Festival once a couple of years ago. I’ve gone to the Brooklyn Book Festival 3 of the past 5 years. The author talks are held at various locations all within walking distance. Events in Boston were indoors. In Brooklyn most events are indoors, but a few are outdoors. Both Brooklyn and Boston have large vendor areas. The vendor areas at both are outdoors with most vendors under tents.

I enjoy the National Book Festival too, but I’m working so it’s a different experience.

As for all of these events: I suggest that if there’s a specific author or authors that you want to see, get to the location a little early to make sure you get a seat. For Boston and Brooklyn, the sessions in the morning, say before noon, are not quite as crowded as the afternoon sessions.

And while we are on the subject, don’t forget the “Connecticut Children’s Book Fair” taking place November 14-15, 2015 at UCONN Storrs.  More info on it at:

http://bookfair.uconn.edu/