Family Day
Saturday May 31
Berkeley Public Library, Central Branch, 2090 Kittredge
What age group is Family Day for?
Everyone! We will have programs for youngsters, elementary and middle grade, tweens & up, and young adults, as well as adults. We will also have fun activities for all ages, including many that can be enjoyed together as a family.
Do you offer childcare?
We are not able to offer childcare for attendees. Please plan to accompany your children to programs and activities if they need supervision.
What do I do if I need an ADA accessible seat, or have any mobility or accessibility needs?
The Festival is ADA accessible. In particular, all sessions at the Berkeley Public Library are wheelchair accessible. We care about making sure everyone can safely and easily enjoy the Festival so please let us know if we can help you in any way. Feel free to send an email in advance of Festival weekend to accessibility@
If you are onsite and have a special need for seating because of a disability, please let our staff know at the venue upon arrival. We will make every effort to accommodate.
How do I make a request for a Sign Language Interpreter?
We will have available-on-demand/roving ASL interpreters who will be ‘scheduled’ on a first-come basis, by email and reservation. If you need services for a particular session, please email accessibility@
Will the Berkeley Public Library be open to the general public during the event?
Yes! The Berkeley Public Library’s central branch will remain open to the general public for regular use during Family Day on Saturday, May 31. The Library is closed to the public on Sundays and as such, will not be open on Sunday June 1 during the Festival.
Where can I find more information?
Before Festival weekend, feel free to email [email protected] with any questions you have about the day.
During the event, we will have an information desk just inside the main entrance to the library.
Main Festival
May 31-June 1
Various Venues – Downtown Berkeley
What can I expect at each venue/stage?
All indoor Festival venues will have two lines. The Priority line is for people who are Friends of the Festival and VIP pass holders. They are admitted first, starting at 20 minutes before the program is scheduled to begin. Then, 10 minutes before the session start time, the General Admission line is admitted, and takes all the rest of the seats (except any seats marked reserved) on a first-come, first-served basis.
Where will festival box office and information be located?
You’ll find our Festival box office starting at 4pm both days at Freight & Salvage, 2020 Addison. There you can purchase tickets for our evening headliners. Or, you can always purchase tickets online anytime at baybookfest.org. On Saturday, we will have Festival information available inside the Library. On Sunday, from 11am to 5pm, we will have festival information available in BART Plaza.
What do I do if I need an ADA accessible seat, or have any mobility or accessibility needs?
The Festival is ADA accessible. In particular, all sessions at the Berkeley Public Library are wheelchair accessible. We care about making sure everyone can safely and easily enjoy the Festival so please let us know if we can help you in any way. Feel free to send an email in advance of Festival weekend to accessibility@
If you are onsite and have a special need for seating because of a disability, please let our staff know at the venue upon arrival. We will make every effort to accommodate.
How do I make a request for a Sign Language Interpreter?
We will have available-on-demand/roving ASL interpreters who will be ‘scheduled’ on a first-come basis, by email and reservation. If you need services for a particular session, please email accessibility@
Once confirmed, we will place an Interpreting Services Icon on the session/program listing(s) on our website so others can see it when perusing the schedule.
A Friends membership allows you to join a priority access line at all the indoor venues, making it easier for you to see your favorite authors. Plus, if there are tickets left, you’ll get one for an evening keynote.
You can join the Friends on our website at baybookfest.org/donate, or by visiting the Friends of the Festival table in BART Plaza the weekend of the Festival (both Saturday and Sunday).
With your donor card, you can get into the Friends priority line, which will enter the venue first when doors open (20 minutes before the program’s start time).
Why “Friend” Us? All daytime programs are now FREE! – that is, free to the public, and free for you reading this page. But this giant event isn’t free to produce, to say the least.
The Friends of the Festival do what all friends do, which is lend a hand, in this case financially, with a donation starting at $250*. That very real generosity benefits everyone: it allows the organizers to bring this nonprofit festival to you for FREE.
Can you say, “With my help, everyone can attend”? Yes you CAN! Go to baybookfest.org/donate right now (easiest).
*It’s tax-deductible, of course. We’ll send you a receipt.