The Philadelphia Book Festival, the Free Library of Philadelphia's annual celebration of reading and literacy will be held Saturday and Sunday, May 17 and 18, from 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. both days, at the Parkway Central Library, 19th and Vine Streets.

The festival features more than 60 of the nation's top writers. Numerous award-winning authors and poets, including celebrity author Barbara Walters, will gather in a lively atmosphere that combines stimulating book talks with an eclectic blend of music, children's entertainment, and a new gaming gallery for all ages to enjoy.

The festival is a free, public event that connects book lovers throughout the mid-Atlantic region. Last year's inaugural event drew over 25,000 attendees.

Kick-off Event

The spirit of the weekend-long Philadelphia Book Festival is showcased in its kick-off event, a parade of storybook characters who engage and entertain the Library's most important patrons, children.

The Berenstain Bears, Winnie the Pooh, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Pat the Bunny, Maisy, Lilly, Toot & Puddle, monsters from Where the Wild Things Are, and a cast of life-sized Star Wars figures will lead participants in a lively march down Vine Street at 12 noon on Saturday to salute the stories that children treasure, both classics and contemporary works of fiction.

The 2008 Philadelphia Book Festival will present a weekend packed with readings from bestselling works of fiction and nonfiction written by some of the nation's most popular writers.

Authors in Attendance

Legendary ABC news anchor and host Barbara Walters headlines the list of renowned authors with her new book, Audition: A Memoir.

Other internationally recognized writers appearing at the festival include Gregory Maguire (Wicked), Eric Jerome Dickey (Pleasure), Food Network host Ellie Krieger (The Food You Crave), Amy Goodman (Standing Up to the Madness); Roscoe Orman (Sesame Street's “Gordon”), James McBride (Song Yet Sung), Michael Scheuer (Marching Toward Hell), and Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Jorie Graham (Sea Change).

Street Fair

Streets around the Library will also be bustling with a Street Fair of more than 70 literary exhibitors—including publishers, bookstores, nonprofit organizations, and independent authors—selling books, sharing their stories, and presenting in-booth talks and author signings. Booths will be open from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on both festival days

Another highlight of the festival for up-and-coming poets and spoken word artists is an open microphone where they can try out their works in progress.

Gaming Gallery

New to the Book Festival this year, Parkway Central will feature a Gaming Gallery where learning and fun go hand in hand. The young and young-at-heart will love testing their skills with the latest video and virtual reality games for Nintendo's Wii, Microsoft's Xbox, and Sony's PlayStation. Gaming activities will include popular titles such as Guitar Hero and Dance Dance Revolution.

Live Music at the Book Festival

The driving rhythms of World music will thrill music and booklovers alike. The artists performing on the Music Stage will be an eclectic mix of performers from around the United States and abroad, including: Cantare´ (Carribean and South American Music), Guy Davis (American Blues), Benoit Bourque (Traditional Québecois Dance), Rani Arbo & Daisy Mayhem (Blues, Swing and Appalachian Fiddle), Ljova and the Kontraband (Chamber-Jam), Alô Brasil (Brazilian Music and Dance), Catherine Russell (American Jazz and Blues), the Marta Gomez Quintet (South American Folk), and Emeline Michel, the reigning Queen of Haitian song.

More Information

For additional information on the 2008 Philadelphia Book Festival you can visit the festival's website which includes more details on all of the events and activities as well as a festival map and information on parking and public transportation to the events.

_{Photos Courtesy of the Philadelphia Book Festival and the Free Library of Philadelphia.}