This One-Of-A-Kind Festival In New York Is A Book Lover’s Dream Come True

Book lovers in New York, rejoice! The Brooklyn Book Festival is the largest free literary festival in New York City, which, as you probably know, is the largest city in America. The festival really is that big! Its aim is to bring together readers with local, national and international authors and publishers during a jam-packed week in the early Fall. The 2023 edition takes place between September 24th and October 2nd. For more information on this amazing festival, keep reading. It's the best book festival in New York.

The Brooklyn Book Festival was founded in 2006 by Brooklyn borough president Marty Markowitz and co-producers Liz Koch and Carolyn Greer. One of their major goals was to showcase the "Brooklyn voice" in literature, as there are many prominent authors who live in the borough.

Since 2006, the fair has expanded its reach, and invited many famous non-Brooklyn writers to the festival. Among them: Joan Didion, Dennis Lehane, John Reed, Rosanne Cash, Salman Rushdie, Karl Ove Knausgård and Dave Eggers. The festival aims to mix new literary voices with established authors.

The fair features themed readings, vendors, author signings and panel discussions. More recently, it has featured a Children's Day and even stand-up comedy specials. All Children's Day events are free. The festival is an accessible event for all ages to enjoy.

In 2009, attendance for the fair spiked up to 30,000.

The festival's motto is "hip, smart and diverse."

Each year, the festival presents the BoBi (Best of Brooklyn) award. It is intended to spotlight "an author whose work best exemplifies or speaks to the spirit of Brooklyn." In 2022, that award went to Esmeralda Santiago.

If you have a serious appetite for books, the Brooklyn Book Festival will nourish that hunger. You really have to check it out in person to believe it. Keep an eye on the Brooklyn Book Festival's Facebook page for all the details on the 2023 event. While you are in Brooklyn, it might be worth stopping in at the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens to smell the flowers, and for a break from all those books.