WILLIAMSBURG — The Williamsburg Book Festival will return on Feb. 24 featuring authors, speakers, illustrators, and publishers from Virginia and beyond.
According to organizers, the festival’s mission is to promote and support the art of literary composition in the Williamsburg area and expose writers to the reading public.
This year’s event will span two buildings — the Stryker Center and the Williamsburg Community Building across the street.
The event began as part of the annual “An Occasion For the Arts” program in October, but due to a hurricane in 2022, was rescheduled as a standalone event, and flourished.
“I scrambled and I was able to get the two buildings in February, so we had the show in early February last year. It was the best attendance and best response we ever had so we decided to keep it there,” Peter Stipe, chairman of the Williamsburg Book Festival, said.
“Until two years ago, we had never had more than about 25 authors and three or four publishers,” he continued. “Last year we were over forty authors and four publishers. This year as of last count we have 47 authors and five publishers. So it’s growing bigger every year.”
More than 90 authors applied for this year’s festival. Stipe said there was aggressive jurying to make sure that only the best authors who were submitted were included in the festival.
Keynote speakers include author Mollie Cox Brian, a mystery author from the Blue Ridge region who sets her mysteries in Virginia. She will also be speaking during the event.
Laura Elliot, a children’s author who writes historical mysteries for a young adult audience, will give a presentation at the festival, as well. She will also speak at all four middle schools in the Williamsburg-James City County area prior to the event.
The winners of the festival’s student writing contest, featuring 27 authors from grade school to college level, will be announced. Stipe hopes that some of the young authors will do reads as part of the program.
Another popular panel returning this year will feature five poets who have been brought in to read at the end of the program. Stipe noted that it was the most-attended speaker session at last year’s festival.
“We’ve had a great outreach from the community and the business community,” Stipe said.
The festival takes place on Feb. 24 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Stryker Center and the Williamsburg Community Building. A finalized schedule is currently in the works. Visit the official Williamsburg Book Festival website for any updates and notices.
