What We're About
The hottest book festival in the south!
Overview
The Mississippi Book Festival, a nonprofit founded by literacy advocates, launched in August 2015 on the State Capitol grounds and continues to draw thousands to its annual “literary lawn party” and book lovers’ celebration. Visit our archive festival pages for highlights, pictures and videos of past festivals.
Impact
Our 10th anniversary festival was a stellar showcase of the very best. On Saturday, September 14th, over 8,000 people attended indoor panel discussions, while hundreds more enjoyed outdoor festival offerings. Add in pre-festival events, for local schools and early kickoffs across the state, and we reached more than 37,500 booklovers in our 7-day celebration.
BY THE NUMBERS (2024) >
BY THE NUMBERS (through the years) >
Authors
Hundreds of contemporary authors — national, regional and local — connect directly with fans and new readers, as invited guests on Official Panels that explore in-depth themes, or along Authors Alley, the festival’s hub for self-published authors.
Attractions
The historic setting and lovely grounds of the Mississippi State Capitol, nearby Galloway church and surrounding streets become a book lover’s playground with hundreds of visiting authors, panel discussions, book signings, booksellers, Capitol tours, food trucks and family-friendly activities.
Family-friendly Activities
Sponsored events and interactive fun roll out the welcome mat for families and engage even the youngest readers in the festival’s kid tent. There, the focus on books and authors ignites the imagination and sets the stage for a lifelong love of books.
