Over the course of two evenings and four separate headliner sessions, join us at the Freight & Salvage for mesmerizing and timely discussions about bad feminism, how gender has become a phantasm for emerging authoritarian regimes, writing as the Other, healing in activism and pathways forward, and what to do in the face of so much uncertainty.
Come build community in a packed house of 500 like-minded folks. Arrive with a friend, leave with a few more and let’s get to work.
These are the only ticketed events that Bay Area Book Festival hosts and all proceeds go to supporting impactful and timely future literary programming.
May 31, 2025
5:30 – 7:00pm & 7:30 – 9:00pm
June 1, 2025
5:30 – 7:00pm & 7:30 – 9:00pm
Freight & Salvage
Performances by Bushwick Book Club Oakland before every headliner
Tickets required. Buy your tickets ($20) by clicking on each program below.
Click on the event to read more about the authors. Tickets required
- ASL Interpreted program
- Gender Theory
- Headliners
- Nonfiction
- Philosophy
- Politics
- Queer Voices
- Science Fiction
- Ticketed
- Trans Voices
Who’s Afraid of Gender?
Judith Butler in conversation with micha cárdenas, moderated by MK Chavez. Introduction and welcome by Brooke Warner. Introductory live music performance by Bushwick Book Club Oakland
Freight & Salvage
Book signing information: Green Apple Books, at the venue
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 at the Berkeley Public Library, 2020 Kittredge on Saturday and BART Plaza on 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.