Family Day at Berkeley Public Library
Saturday May 4, 2024, 11 am – 5pm
Young Readers/Writers Showcase * Family Reading Activities
Celebrate “Star Wars Day: May the 4th Be With You” and
“Free Comic Book Day”
Free Admission
10th Anniversary Bay Area Book Festival
June 1-2, 2024, 11 am – 5pm (+ ticketed evening events)
Various Venues in Downtown Berkeley
Top Authors * Critical Conversations * Writers’ Day
Outdoor Fair/Literary Marketplace (Sunday only)
Outdoor Fair/Literary Marketplace (Sunday only)
Free Admission
Get ready for our Festival(s)!
Our next festival will take place in two parts: Family Day at the Berkeley Public Library on Saturday May 4, 2024 (geared towards youngsters through teens/YA) and our full 10th Anniversary festival June 1 & 2, 2024 in Downtown Berkeley. We plan to present the 2024 festival fully in person, with the possibility of some events additionally available via livestream. Barring unforeseen changes in the public health situation, we do not currently plan to host any fully virtual events in 2024
Full lineup and schedule for both weekends will be live at the beginning of April!
Sign up to our newsletter to be the first to know!
About the Bay Area Book Festival
Annually featuring scores of renowned and emerging authors in conversations at multiple indoor and outdoor venues, the Bay Area Book Festival has become one of the country’s premier literary events. We are lucky to be based in a region rich in literary history and innovation and brimming with writers, readers, activists, and independent booksellers. Attracting 10,000 attendees over the course of the events in Downtown Berkeley, the festival promotes its authors and programs through a robust publicity strategy utilizing social media, partnerships with local press and partner organizations, and story placements in diverse and wide-ranging media outlets.
The Festival offers a panoramic view of what’s most exciting in literature today. Our goal is to create conversation, prioritizing authors and topics that reflect and engage the diverse readers who live and work in the Bay Area. We center marginalized voices, explore complex current events from a multitude of angles, and celebrate boundary-pushing literature. Our comprehensive program for children and middle grade readers finds new and creative ways to engage young readers and their caregivers through interactive and innovative programming.
Family Day at Berkeley Public Library
Saturday May 4, 2024, 11 am – 5pm
Free Admission
Celebrating “Star Wars: May the 4th be With You” and “National Free Comic Book Day”
• Young Readers/Writers Showcase
• Youth-Oriented Author Talks, Panels, Signings
• Teens/YA Programs
• Family Reading Activities
• Arts, Crafts, and STEAM Activities
• Free Book Giveaway
• Literacy Information & Services
10th Anniversary Festival
June 1-2, 2024, 11 am – 5pm
Free Admission (+ ticketed evening events)
Saturday June 1 – Writers’ Day
Berkeley Public Library
We know our community is filled with writers and authors, aspiring and published. The Festival wants to honor all of you with a day-long series of workshops and sessions that drill down into topics that will spur your creativity, engage your writerly minds, and even support you with practical, insiders’ advice and guidance in your journey to publication.
That’s why, in addition to our usual amazing programs and headliner events, we’re planning a Writers’ Day. This full day of sessions will feature nonfiction, poetry, and fiction events, a session on publishing, and two pitch sessions for our robust writing community.
Saturday June 1 – Evening Headliner (TBA)
The Freight & Salvage
Sunday June 2 – Author Events
MLK, Jr. Civic Center Park and Various Venues in Downtown Berkeley
• Provocative Keynotes, Panels, Interviews, Readings
• Critical Conversations with Top Authors, Thought Leaders
• Indigenous Authors Showcase
• Author Q&A and Book Signings
Sunday June 2 – Outdoor Fair
MLK, Jr. Civic Center Park ─ Free Admission
• Author Pavilion – new and emerging writers
• Literary Marketplace ─ books, literary-themed gifts
• Youth Activity Tent ─ interactive fun for kids!
• Food Court ─ Popular Bay Area vendors and trucks
Sunday June 2 – Evening Headliners (TBA)
The Freight & Salvage
Other Ways to Get Involved
The proposal evaluation process is very competitive. Even if we can’t include your program in our official festival programming, there are other ways to get involved and guarantee that your author or program can be included in the festival:
Be an Exhibitor
The Festival features scores of literary-themed exhibitors, including individual authors who purchase a booth or table in our outdoor fair held in MLK, Jr. Civic Center Park on June 2nd (please note, these authors do not appear on stages, but interface directly with the public outdoors). If you or your company is interested in exhibiting, please apply below. We’d love to have you!
Volunteer
Registration for joining our Volunteer team is now open, and is off to a great start – but we want to get more as this years Festival is FREE, and we are counting on support from you to help it be seamless and wonderful (you know it better than anyone)!
Be a Sponsor
There are many opportunities for sponsorship of the Bay Area Book Festival. Let us work with you to deliver and maximize your investment in this unique event. Opportunities range from branding or creation of sessions, marketing through our mailing list, special outdoor activations, presence at our Author Party, and more. Please visit our sponsor page, email [email protected].