New Orleans is a city steeped in the spiritual. With over forty cemeteries across the city housing thousands of tombs, we live among the dead. Yet we are a joyful community that celebrates nearly everything. These seemingly opposing landscapes—one filled with tombs and one filled with dancing in the streets—dwell in harmony together. We appreciate the spirit world here and are mostly unfazed by hauntings, curses, and even vampires. It’s part of the charm of our city, and the supernatural slips easily into our literature. New Orleans writers and readers love a ghost tale, a Southern Gothic story, a gritty crime novel, and a disturbing mystery. And that spirit (as it were) has woven its way into this year’s Tennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival (TWFest). 

This year’s Books and Beignets, the annual breakfast book club, will focus on Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire. Written nearly fifty years ago, the novel has never loosened its hold on readers, moviegoers, and most recently, television viewers. The phenomenon continues with a day of events and panels focused on crime writing as the festival celebrates the tenth anniversary of The Pinckley Prizes for Crime Fiction. The supernatural takes a comedic turn with the Last Bohemia Soirée featuring Tim Murray is WITCHES!, a mix of stand-up and original songs about comedy performer Tim Murray’s favorite pop culture witches. This year’s production by festival partner Tennessee Williams Theatre Company of New Orleans is Orpheus Descending, Williams’s Southern Gothic allegory about death, new life, testing wills, and tempting the fates. The festival program cover sets the scene for the spirit-filled weekend with a nighttime architectural image by New Orleans photographer Frank Relle.  

TWFest will kick off on Sunday, March 23, with the beloved Stella Shouting Contest in conjunction with an online fundraiser for the New Orleans Family Justice Center. The festival continues with opening night on Williams’s birthday, March 26, with a cabaret-style show starring Mink Stole accompanied by Harry Mayronne.  

The week continues with over one hundred literary events, including panels, a Williams tribute reading, and the annual Williams scholars conference. The festival welcomes celebrated writers such as Pulitzer Prize winner Michael Cunningham, award-winning poet KB Brookins, and activist and writer Kalamu ya Salaam, alongside debut authors like Amanda Jones, Chin-Sun Lee, and E.M. Tran.  

The festival is a springtime tradition for readers, writers, theatre lovers, and those drawn to the mystique of New Orleans. Unlike most book festivals, TWFest includes a celebration of New Orleans culture with culinary, cocktail, music, and theatre events. Referred to as The Last Bohemia, these events will include Chef Eric Cook hosting a book signing with tastings and cocktails from his book at his restaurant, Saint John. Poppy Tooker will host a literary-themed Drag Queen Brunch. Music will include performances by Layla Musselwhite, Alexis and the Sanity, and The Slick Skillet Serenaders. And nontraditional theatre events will include Harold and St. Claude, Seeking Asylum, The Night Fiona Flawless Went Mad,  Kitten on the Keys in Langue de Chat, and A Recluse and his Guest. 

In addition, the Saints and Sinners LGBTQ+ Literary Festival, held the same weekend, will feature panel discussions, writer’s craft sessions, readings, book launches, and social events March 28–30, giving LGBTQ+ readers, writers, and literary professionals vital time as a community. 

TWFest, Saints and Sinners, and The Last Bohemia will combine to make March 23–30 a week of literary revelry and celebration of the written word not to be missed. Come absorb the literary spirit that permeates the entire city of New Orleans. Full details and tickets at tennesseewilliams.net and sasfest.org.