This One-Of-A-Kind Festival In Tennessee Is A Book Lover’s Dream Come True
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Meghan Kraft
Author
The south is home to quite a few literary giants: Flannery O’Connor, Eudora Welty and Truman Capote, to name a few. Although none of the three originated in Tennessee, we still represent our talented region with the Southern Festival of Books, celebrated in the fall of every year. It’s a wonderland for book lovers, writers and the literary-minded alike.
The Southern Festival of Books celebrates its 30th year this fall, having grown from an intimate gathering to one of the most anticipated and exciting events in Nashville.
The three-day festival takes place every year during the second weekend in October. It's completely free, with booths lining the Veterans Memorial Plaza in the heart of downtown Nashville. Lectures are held in the Downtown Public Library, just a few blocks down, with every lecture free and available to the public.
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We'd also recommend you keep an eye on the Ann Patchett-helmed Parnassus Books, Nashville's independent bookstore located in a small Green Hills strip mall. Location aside, this sweet and dog-friendly space is a great spot to get in on author readings and lectures not only during the festival but throughout the rest of the year.
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It wouldn't be Nashville if there's wasn't live music on stage! There are three performance stages that are located throughout the event, from the Music Stage to a Youth Stage for children and a Performing Arts Stage for literary performances.
Festival book sale proceeds are all used to support the Southern Book Festival, which means the tradition born in 1989 will live on to see another year. On average, 200 authors make their way to Nashville to take part in panel discussions, readings and book signings.
The atmosphere is great for folks of all ages and seeks to unite all southern book lovers under Nashville's welcoming eye. The only other southern book festival that holds a candle to Nashville's literary dedication is the Tennessee Williams Literary Festival in New Orleans, hosted during the fourth weekend of March.
Have you been? Would you go? Mark your calendars for the three-day ode to the written work this October, and bring a friend. This is one experience you'll want to repeat again and again.
If you’re looking for a fun local experience, you should Stay In This Unparalleled Tennessee Yurt For A Night Of Pure Magic!
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