Harvard professor Imani Perry will chat with award-winning novelist Jesmyn Ward, New Orleans singers Tank Ball and Big Freedia will talk about music with radio host Gwen Thompkins, and superstar business journalist Michael Lewis will talk about his latest book. And that’s just a start.
The third annual New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane University, Thursday through Saturday, March 14-16, unveiled its full 2024 schedule on Wednesday, featuring more than 150 authors and others speaking with moderators or as part of more than 90 panels. Times and places for the events are mapped out on “cubes” similar to those released for the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival lineup.
The final day of the fest is devoted to families, with books and events for young readers.
“The convergence of literary, culinary, and artistic brilliance at this event transcends mere celebration; it’s a symphony of creativity and a feast for the senses,” festival co-chair and Tulane professor Walter Isaacson said in a release.
The festival is free and takes place on Tulane’s Uptown campus. Seating for all sessions is open to the public and is first come, first served.
Among other speakers scheduled are Stacey Abrams, Kwame Alexander, Ken Burns, Liz Cheney, Steve Gleason, Maggie Haberman, Sal Khan, Terry McMillan, Gen. David Petraeus, Jake Tapper and Amor Towles.
The festival kicks off at 4 p.m. March 14 as Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of Book Festival partner The Atlantic magazine, announces the magazine’s quest to update the canon of great American novels.
Goldberg will discuss the project to discern literary greatness with Isaacson and a panel consisting of Atlantic editors Jane Kim and Ellen Cushing, plus staff writers Clint Smith and Jemele Hill.
Also on March 14, Ward and Hill will discuss “Open Minds: Protecting the Freedom to Read and Learn.”
Author book signings will follow many of the panel sessions. Books will be available for purchase on-site at a tent hosted by New Orleans booksellers Baldwin & Co. and Octavia Books.
The book festival has teamed up with New Orleans Entrepreneur Week for crossover programming focused on business. This year, the fest also presents a session in Spanish in collaboration with the Stone Center for Latin American Studies, with authors Yuri Herrera and Gabriela Alemán.
Family Day at the Fest will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 16 with children’s and family programming. Scholastic publishing will give away books, and books will also be for sale thanks to vendors from Garden District Books on site.
“We’ve been working diligently since last year’s festival to intentionally curate a schedule that will appeal to a wide range of tastes,” Cheryl Landrieu, festival co-chair, said in the event’s statement. “Our festival lineup promises something for every book lover, regardless of age, and we hope to ignite a love for reading in the hearts of all attendees.
For information on the New Orleans Book Festival at Tulane University, visit bookfest.tulane.edu. Registration is encouraged to fine-tune programming for future festivals, but it’s not required.
