Discovering the Los Angeles Festival of Books 2023
Are you a bookworm like me? Then you’ll love discovering the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books! This weekend-long event takes place every April at the University of Southern California campus in the heart of downtown Los Angeles. Book signings, author panels, keynote speakers, and hundreds of booths make this event one of the best for writers, readers, and all lovers of literature. Don’t forget to scroll to the bottom of this post to watch my vlog taking you inside the festival!
In 2023, the festival included an impressive lineup of speakers, including Stacey Abrams, Roxane Gay, Jennifer Garner, Laura Dern, Leslie Odom Jr., Meghan Trainor, Father Greg Boyle, and more.
Are you thinking about attending next year’s festival? If so, I’ve packed in all the information you need in this handy guide to the Los Angeles Festival of Books. From what time to get there to what to bring, keep reading to find out everything you need to know about this very special festival honoring just the thing we all love — books!
Do I need to be a writer to attend?
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You don’t have to be a writer to attend the festival – you just have to love (or even have an interest) in reading books!
What does it cost to attend the Los Angeles Festival of Books?
The best part? The festival is free! Or, well, MOSTLY free. Admission to indoor talks come with a small fee of just $5.
You can reserve those online a few days before the event, or you can purchase at the door. If you really have your heart set on a particular keynote or panel, I would recommend purchasing online in advance. This will also save you time standing in line and nearly guarantee you a better seat.
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Another option is becoming a Friend of the Festival, which lets you reserve up to 20 panel tickets for $85, along with a few other perks.
Do I need to RSVP in advance?
Surprisingly, you don’t! You can just show up on the day of the festival and roam the booths and find panels to attend, as you like.
What time should I arrive at the Los Angeles Festival of Books?
All the panels start at 10am, so I’d recommend arriving around 9:30 or 9:45am to find parking, get your bearings, find the location of the panel you want to go to, and grab a coffee at the on-campus Starbucks.
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Side note: You can also get to the festival by taking the LA Metro. The closest stop is Expo Park / USC on the E Line (Expo line).
What kind of topics are covered during the panels?
The panel topics are SO fascinating. I was so interested in the thought-provoking conversations held between some of the leading writers of our time.
A few examples of topics from the 2023 Los Angeles Festival of Books:
- Fiction: Writing in the Genres of Bradbury
- Romance in the Big City
- Arts & Culture: Hollywood Livin, Dreamin and Laughin
- YA Fiction: Queer Romance
- Critical Thinking: Art & Society with Roxane Gay
The panels take place at stages designed by genre (poetry, young adult, fiction, etc.) throughout the central part of the USC Campus around Tommy Trojan.
Oh no! Two panels I want to attend are scheduled at the same time. What do I do?!
This is the HARDEST part of the entire festival – deciding which panels to attend! Trust me, if I could divide myself in two and go to both panels, I would.
There’s not much you can really do but toss a coin and pick one. Sorry! It would be great if the LA Festival of Books offered recorded versions of the panels for viewing later (or even live streaming) but I don’t believe that’s currently an offering.
Can I buy books at the festival to be signed by my favorite author?
Yes! You’ll see many stands throughout the festival selling books by the authors featured in each panel. For example, I first learned about Dana Schwartz’s Anatomy: A Love Story by attending a panel she was on with two other authors. I loved her energy and hearing about her book so much, I decided to buy the sequel, Immortality, to get it signed by her and chat with Dana for a brief moment. So cool!
It’s also such a great way to support our fellow writers and keep reading alive! I also love how I can discover new authors and books at the Los Angeles Festival of Books.
If I already own a book by an author who will be giving a signing, can I bring that book with me and still have it signed?
I believe it’s common courtesy to purchase the book new at the festival itself and have the author sign it on the spot, however, I saw many people with well-loved books standing in line for their copies to be signed. I’m not 100% sure if there is any policy against it, but I’d say, go for it!
What about the booths – should I visit those?
Yes! I actually spent quite.a bit of time wandering through the exhibitor booths. You can meet small business owners, authors, and learn about nonprofits in your area by browsing through the hundreds of booths at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. A few I enjoyed stopping at:
- Allegría Publishing: https://alegriamagazine.com/
- Steamy Lit: https://www.steamylit.com/
- Feminist Book Club: https://www.feministbookclub.com/
- The Jane Austen Society: https://jasnasw.com/
Is there anything else I should bring to the festival?
A tote bag! You’ll likely be tempted to buy plenty of books (I know I was!), so a backpack or canvas tote bag is recommended.
I thought I’d buy one, maybe two books, but I ended up buying three!
Aside from a tote bag and perhaps books you already own you’d like to get signed, I’d suggest bringing some snacks as the food at the festival is on the pricier side. Plus, while you’re running around enjoying back-to-back panels, it’s hard to pull yourself away and take a break for a bite to eat!
When will the dates of the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books 2024 be announced?
The date for the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books 2024 hasn’t been announced yet, but stay tuned here and I’ll update this post when I find out! Typically the festival is held near the end of the month of April, so for 2024, it MIGHT be April 20-21.
Questions, comments, or anything else? Leave me a comment!
Don’t forget to press play on my vlog covering my experience at the LA Festival of Books, below!
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