The city's first book festival will bring together more than 50 authors, booksellers and cultural organizations at the Main Library on Saturday, October 11, with events ranging from bilingual storytelling to puppet shows.
The Riverside Book Festival, a collaboration between Inlandia Institute and Riverside Public Library, runs from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Main Library, 3900 Mission Inn Avenue. Admission is free, and the first 200 attendees will receive commemorative tote bags.
"The Riverside Public Library is thrilled to partner with Inlandia on this festival," said Erin Christmas, Library Director. "A book festival strongly supports this mission. Various local and national authors will be onsite to answer questions, sign books and participate on panels."
"Stories are the cornerstone of community," said Inlandia Executive Director Cati Porter. "We tell them to each other out loud, we tell them to ourselves. We read them to our children. We collect them in writing and publish them in books. The Riverside Book Festival gathers some of our community's most accomplished storytellers. Come out and listen, read, and meet authors of all kinds hailing from all over the region. Bring the whole family!"
California Poet Laureate Lee Herrick will deliver the keynote address, discussing his journey from being adopted from Korea to becoming the first Asian American to hold the state poet laureate position. The festival will also feature panels with nationally acclaimed authors including Susan Straight, Alex Espinoza, Tod Goldberg, Cassandra Lane, Samantha Dunn, Ron Arias, Isabel Quintero and Nydia Armendia-Sanchez.
The festival grounds will include a Children's Pavilion, Local History & Culture Tent and New Books Discovery Zone, along with food trucks and live music throughout the day.
"These activities will help bring books to life, the festival will encourage new genres and areas of reading for participants, and provide books that reflect a multitude of cultures, perspectives, and topics," Christmas said. "The festival not only promotes lifelong learning and literacy but also highlights the Library's pivotal role as a cultural and educational hub for both residents and visitors."
For those seeking a more intimate experience, VIP tickets are available for $75, offering a social hour with refreshments alongside headlining authors.
Parking will be available at downtown city lots and at Raincross Tower Parking, 3801 University Avenue, which will be open from 10:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on festival day.
The festival was made possible through support from the City of Riverside, Riverside Downtown Partnership, Center for Social Justice and Civil Liberties, Kathy Wright & Dwight Tate, Wingate Foundation and the Inland Empire News Group.
Regular library programs will continue at all branches on Saturday, including Family Storytime at Main at 9:30 a.m., Crochet Club at Arlington Library at 10 a.m., and various activities throughout the day at other locations.
More information: The Riverside Book Festival takes place Saturday, October 11, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Main Library, 3900 Mission Inn Avenue. Free admission. For more details, visit RiversideBookFestival.org.
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