Bookworm Block Party
Free to the general public, our annual Bookworm Block Party (a.k.a. Outdoor Fair) is a high-traffic, robust showcase of upwards of 150+ exhibitors and activations celebrating books and literature.
There are two opportunities to exhibit with us at the 2027 festival:
- YouthLit — Saturday, June 5, in front of the Berkeley Main Library on Kittredge Street.
- Bookworm Block Party Outdoor Fair — Sunday, June 6, on Allston Way from Oxford all the way down to MLK Jr. Way and in MLK Civic Center Park.
Each exhibition day will feature outdoor literary stages, storytime spaces, reading lounges, meet and greets with popular authors, an eclectic food court, and much more. Sunday’s Bookworm Block Party is substantially larger.
The 2026 exhibitions were a huge success, drawing packed crowds of tens of thousands of attendees, and we will be expanding our exhibitor footprint in MLK Civic Center Park for our 13th annual festival in 2027.
All exhibitors must be promoting, offering, and/or selling products, programs, and/or services that are book- or literacy-related. You may identify as an indie press/publisher, community-based nonprofit, magazine/journal, literary organization or club, self-published author, independent illustrator, or artisan with book-related art/crafts.
Food vendors (Sunday, June 6 only) and sponsors are the only exceptions to the books/literary-only rule for exhibitors.
Applying to Exhibit
You must apply separately for each day that you are interested in exhibiting.
Saturday, June 5 — YouthLit Exhibitor Applications
Applications for exhibitors wishing to participate in YouthLit on Saturday, June 5.
Sunday, June 6 — Bookworm Block Party Exhibitor Applications
Applications for exhibitors wishing to participate in the Bookworm Block Party Outdoor Fair on Sunday, June 6.
When will we hear if our application is accepted, declined, or waitlisted?
This year, we will be informing applicants whether their application has been accepted, declined, or waitlisted in three waves:
Wave 1 — December 1: Accepted / Declined / Waitlisted
Wave 2 — January 1: Accepted / Declined / Waitlisted
Wave 3 — February 1: Final acceptances and declines sent
IMPORTANT NOTE: Applying does not guarantee acceptance.
Thank you for applying.
For youth and family-focused exhibitors. You will be outdoors on Kittredge Street in front of the Berkeley Main Library on Saturday, June 5. We will only accept around 25 exhibitors.
For literature related exhibitors who are interested in exhibiting on Allston Way as part of our Bookworm Block Party outdoor fair on Sunday, June 6.
