More than 20,000 attendees annually fill the streets around Baton Rouge’s Capitol Park for the state’s flagship literary event, hosted by the Louisiana Center for the Book in the State Library of Louisiana. After celebrating its twentieth anniversary last year, the Louisiana Book Festival embarks on its third decade celebrating readers, writers, and the books that connect them.

“For two decades now, the festival has showcased Louisiana’s rich literary heritage,” said Robert Wilson, Acting Executive Director of the Louisiana Center for the Book. “It’s always exciting to welcome old and new friends to experience one of the most unique cultural events in our region.”

The festival attracts about two hundred authors from across the nation who conduct book talks and signings. Among the writers featured this year are Wally Lamb, whose latest book The River is Waiting is a recent Oprah Winfrey Book Club selection, and Ricky Riccardi, Director of Research Collections at the Louis Armstrong House Museum in New York, who examines the legendary trumpeter’s rise to fame in Stomp Off, Let’s Go: The Early Years of Louis Armstrong. A cooking demonstration will be provided by Marcelle Bienvenu, author of Who’s Your Mama, Are You Catholic, and Can You Make a Roux? All told, authors will participate in more than one hundred programs, including writing seminars the day before the festival.

The recipient of the Louisiana Writer Award is recognized each year at the festival. Poet Julie Kane will be presented with the 2025 award, which honors outstanding contributions to the state’s literary and intellectual life exemplified by a contemporary Louisiana writer’s body of work. This year’s One Book One Festival discussion will focus on the short stories of noted Louisiana historical author Kate Chopin.

This year the festival kicks off with a celebration of the State Library of Louisiana’s one hundredth year serving the citizens and libraries of Louisiana.

“Today a library is much more than a place to find a good book or do research,” said State Librarian Meg Placke. “It is the heart of a healthy community, playing an essential role in education, innovation, and democracy. We’re excited to highlight our work in supporting public library systems and share our centennial celebration with festival attendees.”

“When we started the Louisiana Book Festival in 2002, we couldn’t have anticipated how much it would come to mean to so many,” said Wilson. “We look forward to shining the spotlight on Louisiana’s literary talent, history, and culture once again this fall.”

Learn more at louisianabookfestival.org.