Participate
You can be a part of the festival too!
Make a Contribution!
We deeply appreciate any and all contributions to help keep the Mississippi Book Festival and its programming FREE and open to the public. Donations at any level from readers like you are vital to our continued success. Celebrate and spread the love of reading and good writing with a donation through our fund at the Community Foundation for Mississippi, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization registered in the State of Mississippi.
Make a contribution here.
Be a Funder!
The Mississippi Book Festival and its programming are made possible through the generosity of individuals, businesses, foundations, and partners. Funders help keep the annual event and non-festival activities FREE and open to the public. Benefactors help us: bring books to life for children in low-income schools, champion Mississippi’s public libraries, and connect authors and readers at events. We welcome your support through our fund at the Community Foundation for Mississippi, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization registered in the State of Mississippi.
Become a Volunteer!
Volunteers are the power source behind the Mississippi Book Festival. Volunteer opportunities come in all shapes and sizes, from greeting guests at the gates and ensuring rooms are ready for panels, to pointing guests in the right direction on the Capitol grounds.
Lend a helping hand by signing up to become part of our volunteer crew! More than 150 volunteers come together each year to make the festival the hottest literary event of the year. Secure your spot today and bonus one-of-a-kind t-shirt!
Interested in more details or have questions? Please reach out by email.
Join as an Exhibitor!
The Mississippi Book Festival offers an exceptional opportunity for individuals, retailers, organizations, and vendors to sell or distribute books, goods, information or food. Potential exhibitors may apply as follows:
- AUTHORS (self-published and/or published) are welcome in Authors Alley — a large exhibitor tent with tables at the heart of the festival. Please note: Official Panelist authors are not included in this space.
- BOOKSELLERS are showcased at the center of the festival in Booksellers Row, conveniently located along Mississippi Street directly across from the Book Signings Tent.
- ORGANIZATIONS (non-profit, government, charitable) have it made in the shade with provided tent space and table in the Community Lawn on the Capitol grounds. Please note: No sales are allowed in this area.
- FOOD VENDORS are essential in the festival’s Food Truck and Pavilion area.
Interested in more details or have questions? Check out this overview or send us an email.
Applications are open! Don't delay. Space is limited with only a few spots remaining.
Suggest a Panelist!
Each year, the Mississippi Book Festival sponsors approximately 40 Official Panels, in which moderators lead small groups of authors in a discussion of their books. Panels are typically built around a theme (e.g. civil rights history, Southern cooking, historical fiction, poetry). Our author selection committee of publishing and book professionals actively pursues potential panelists for topics, considers submissions, and sends invitations.
Suggestions for the 2024 festival are welcome through May 1, 2024, (any suggestion received after that date will be considered on a case by case basis).
Notifications will be issued by June 1, 2024.
Submit your ideas for official panelists by email here.