Skip to content

saturday events

 

Saturday, November 1 / Kentucky Book Festival /  9:00 am – 3:00 pm

Get ready for an exciting day at the Kentucky Book Festival on Saturday, November 1, from 9 am to 3 pm at Joseph-Beth Booksellers! This literary extravaganza promises a delightful mix of activities for book lovers of all ages.

Upstairs, immerse yourself in the vibrant atmosphere with three stages hosting a variety of panel discussions, engaging conversations, hands-on workshops, and captivating presentations. Whether you’re a budding writer, an avid reader, or simply curious, there’s something for everyone to enjoy and learn from.

Head down the escalator or elevator for a variety of fun kids’ activities, including a magical storytime area where children can listen to enchanting tales read by participating authors. Aspiring young artists can join the illustration workshops and unleash their creativity under the guidance of talented illustrators. You also may run into Rainbow Fish or Mother Bruce while you’re there.

Throughout the lower level, meet over 140 of your favorite authors. This is your chance to chat with them, get your books signed, and discover new reads. Children 14 and under will receive a voucher to select a book from a participating author to take home for free. The Kentucky Book Festival is not just an event; it’s a celebration of stories, imagination, and the joy of reading. Don’t miss out on this literary adventure!

More details on the programs, as well as a complete schedule of events and participating authors, will be available on our website (www.kybookfestival.org) and through our social media channels.

Joseph-Beth Booksellers / 161 Lexington Green Circle / Lexington, KY 40503

 

STAGE SCHEDULE

10 AM Y’all of Appalachia 

UK Main Stage

Julia Flint, Mandi Sheffel, & Shaunna Scott in conversation with Davis Shoulders

10 AM KSPS Welcome 

Writer’s Room

With Deidra White, Bill Verble, and Susanna Spearman
 

10 AM Wide World of Fiction 

KCTCS Stage

Allegra Solomon, Sarah Landenwich, & Elizabeth Bass Parman in conversation with Bob Johnson

11 AM Secrets of Adulthood 

UK Main Stage

Gretchen Rubin in conversation with Kevin Nance

11 AM Writing for Young Readers 

Writer’s Room

Jamie D’Amato, Misako Rocks!, & Nathan Landrum in conversation with Mariama J. Lockington

11 AM Uncovering Family 

KCTCS Stage

Johnisha Matthew Levi, James Wells, & Martha S. Jones in conversation with Sonya Lea

12 PM Telling My Story 

UK Main Stage

Martha Barnette, George Ella Lyon, & Angela Correll in conversation with Marvin Bartlett

12 PM Wish You Were Here: Writing about Place & the Lyric Short Form 

Writer’s Room

Lynnell Edwards

12 PM Bourbon, Spirits, & Cocktails 

KCTCS Stage

Jennifer Brian, Belinda Smith-Sullivan, & Elias Eells in conversation with Susan Reigler

12 PM Supporting Kentucky Writers with James Baker Hall Foundation 

Writer’s Room

Toni Ann Johnson & Wesley Houp in conversation with Larry Pemble

1 PM Looking at Lexington History 

UK Main Stage

Keven McQueen, Christopher Newman, & Jeremy Popkin in conversation with Fiona Young-Brown

1 PM Poetry Read Around 

KCTCS Stage

 

2 PM Documenting Life 

Writer’s Room

Elizabeth DeWolfe, Bryan Bush, & Louis S. DeLuca in conversation with Jessica Whitehead

2 PM Can’t Stop the Music 

KCTCS Stage

Barry Mazor, B. Elizabeth Beck, & Mark Rigney in conversation with Marianne Peel

2 PM Kentucky State Poetry Society Keynote 

UK Main Stage

Kathleen Driskell & Silas House in conversation with Katerina Stoykova
 
 

KID ZONES

Screenshot 2025-10-28 at 2.53.19 PM