Book Festival Weekend takes place November 5 and 6, 2016.

Texas Book Festival. Founded in 1995 by Laura W. Bush, a former librarian and then First Lady of Texas, along with Austin benefactor Mary Margaret Farabee and a dedicated group of volunteers, the Texas Book Festival connects authors and readers through experiences that celebrate the culture of literacy, ideas, and imagination.

Spread throughout the grounds of the State Capitol and along Austin’s iconic Congress Avenue, the 2016 Texas
Reading Rock Stars brings books to life for children in low-income schools by inviting authors from across the country to present their books, giving each student an autographed copy, and providing a set of books to the school's library. Since inception, the TBF has donated 72,000+ books to kids at 78 Title I public schools in Texas through 314 author visits.

Texas Public Library Grants help libraries meet the needs of their communities through annual grants awarded to support collection enhancement. The Festival has contributed more than $2.8 million in grants to 600+ public libraries across Texas.

The Youth Fiction Writing Contest encourages and rewards creative writing in Texas schools for students in grades 7 to 12.

The Texas Teen Book Festival is a free, one-day event that celebrates the teen reading experience by inviting fans to engage with some of the most popular and critically acclaimed young adult authors in the country. The 2016 Festival will take place Saturday, October 1, at
St. Edward's University.
Festival Attendees Can Expect:
FESTIVAL
ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS FUNDED BY THE TBF
250+ authors at readings, panel discussions, and signings
80+ exhibitor booths and food vendors, including some of Austin’s favorite food trucks and local classics
20+ tents and venues, including cooking, C-SPAN, children's entertainment, and more
10+ live music performances
Additional Weekend Events:
First Edition Literary Gala – November 4 at the Four Seasons Hotel
Lit Crawl Austin – November 5 in East Austin