A Celebration of Literature.
The Brooklyn Book Festival is an annual, week-long celebration of literature. Bookworms in NYC and beyond eagerly await this literary extravaganza that happens every September since 2006. Book vendors, publishers, and authors from all over the nation and globe gather to revel in the latest literary treasures. It is New York City’s only free book fair and is devoted to keeping reading culture alive.
A Celebration of Literature.
The Brooklyn Book Festival is a week-long celebration of the written word. Whether it’s in the form of a novel, comic books, illustrated fairy tales, poetry, graphic novels, or manuscripts, there is something for everyone. There is contemporary literature and classics. There are books fresh out of the presses and older, more rare editions. The author panels and lively Q & A audience discussions make this a must-see for bibliophiles.
Bookend Events.
Bookend Events kick things off. The events cater to older readers and younger alike and are held at various locations for a week. This year’s first Bookend Event was a Story Time Mini-Marathon featuring four stories. One event featured a walking tour focused on Walt Whitman’s accounts of the South Street Seaport. Yearnings of a Chatbot: Are Poets the Original Chatbots? featured poetry about what the purpose of a poet and art is in this world of looming AI technology.
The events can be in-person or streamed. Some are free while others are ticketed. Themes ranged from connecting Mozart and mystery, to the writings of Willa Carther, hosted by filmmaker Ken Burns, or a discussion on games based off of literature. This was just a small selection of all the Bookend Events. All of these built up to Festival Day.
Festival Day and Marketplace.
Events, tents, and vendors galore. Authors from a wide array of diverse backgrounds make the pilgrimage each year to this celebration of literature. It begins at 10 am and continues into the afternoon. If your feet aren’t sore by the end, have you truly celebrated? Stroll through a literary playground of tents, full of books, catalogues, manuscripts, and magazines. Forage through a treasure trove of books featuring new releases and rare gems, from a variety of publishers and independent bookstores. Additionally you can even find a few free college literary magazines.
Along with the Brooklyn Book Festival Day thoroughfare, there are events featured across NYC. Some panels of 2023’s Festival Day featured discussions on the overlap of horror and the crisis of global warming, poetry, how fiction can help young people navigate their youth and foster self-actualization, among many more. Likewise, there were live readings and panel discussions. There was even a sultry poetry reading all about sex! Who says literature has to be dry and stuffy?
A Celebration of Children’s Literature.
In addition to the already impressive roster that the Brooklyn Book Festival has to offer there is Children’s Day. Accommodating children from ages 2 to 100, there is something for everyone. There were beautifully illustrated books about pirates and mermaids, novels for adolescents, magazines, graphic novels and comics, even an illustrated Ramayana. Authors and illustrators from all over came to vend their books at the tents. Authors truly love to do impromptu readings of their books to eager listeners, and many will be glad to if you ask. As well, there were live readings on the main stage, workshops, and activities for budding young readers.
Don’t Miss this Opportunity.
The Brooklyn Book Festival is, as earlier stated, a celebration of the written word. It is an opportunity to support independent publishers and authors while enriching your mind. Furthermore, it unites New York City literature fans of all backgrounds truly like nothing else. It would be a tragedy to miss entirely. Book lovers must go to at least one Brooklyn Book Festival event or their library cards will be revoked. Go to Brooklyn Festival next fall in 2024. Your brain and heart will love it.
Brooklynites.NYC is sorry for the severe lack of content these last two months. Our posts will resume with more regularity. Thanks for your time as always. <3
Find out where Brooklyn’s coolest bookstores are:
https://brooklynites.nyc/brooklyns-indie-bookstores/
Creeping techtatorship:
https://brooklynites.nyc/creeping-techtatorship/
Read more about the Brooklyn Book Festival: