The 21st annual Louisiana Book Festival is Saturday, November 1, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in downtown Baton Rouge's Capitol Park with events in the State Library of Louisiana, Capitol Park Museum, Bienville Building, and the surrounding area.
The festival will kick off a full day of programs and activities at 9:00 a.m. on the steps of the State Library of Louisiana with a celebration of the library’s 100th anniversary.
State Librarian Meg Placke, Library of Congress Historian John Cole, and former State Librarian Thomas Jaques will open the event with a commemoration of the agency’s role and impact on Louisiana education, literacy, and civic engagement since its founding in 1925. A special exhibition that chronicles the history of the State Library will be on display in its front lobby during the festival.
The Louisiana Writer Award, given this year to celebrated poet and educator Julie Kane at a ceremony in the State Library’s Seminar Center beginning at 12:00 p.m. Kane will also be featured with a follow-up conversation moderated by former Louisiana Poet Laureate Alison Pelegrin and will present one of the festival’s WordShops seminars the day before the festival.
Featured authors will include 7-time New York Times bestselling novelist Wally Lamb, Grammy Award-winning Louis Armstrong biographer Ricky Riccardi, #1 international bestselling novelist Julie Clark, Louisiana Readers’ Choice Award-winning authors, and dozens of renowned Louisiana-based writers.
The festival’s popular One Book, One Festival discussion group featuring a trio of short stories by renowned 19th century Louisiana author Kate Chopin. Attendees are invited to read Chopin’s "At the 'Cadian Ball" and "La Belle Zoraïde" from Bayou Folk, and "Athenaise" from A Night in Acadie to join the scholar-led discussion.
Cooking demonstrations with cookbook authors, including Marcelle Bienvenu, author of Who’s Your Mama, Are You Catholic, and Can You Make a Roux, and Celeste Gill, author of Chef Celeste’s Louisiana Kitchen: Simplifying Cajun and Creole Cuisine.
A full day of poetry programs includes two panels featuring 12 Louisiana poets hosted by Louisiana Poet Laureate Gina Ferrara. She will also participate in two special poetry exchanges with Louisiana’s previous Poet Laureate Alison Pelegrin, and New York State Poet Laureate Kimiko Hahn. Attendees can also take home free personalized poems composed on the spot in the lobby of the State Library using antique typewriters.
Registration is still open for the festival’s WordShops seminars. To register, visit www.louisianabookfestival.org or call (225) 219-9503.
For more information about the festival visit www.louisianabookfestival.org.
