After navigating through the pandemic for two years, the 蜜柚直播 Festival of Books made its way back to the University of 蜜柚直播 campus for its 14th year, drawing in its usual large crowd.
Since 2009, TFOB has contributed over $2,000,000 to agencies that improve literacy in the community. This year, the festival included 267 presenting authors that represented over 15 genres.
After a two-year hiatus, Melanie Morgan, the executive director of TFOB, said she was not sure how many people to expect, given the pandemic, but the festival was as full as it has ever been. The festival typically sees 140,000 people over the two days.
鈥淓veryone is so happy to be back,鈥 Morgan said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e all working together, and everyone seems to be having a great festival.鈥
Sue Labuda, who has been to TFOB every year, brought her grandson to the festival on Sunday to watch some Irish dancing. She said it was so nice to be back, and they were excited to visit Science City, which included 24 STEM-based exhibitions and activities.
People are also reading…
Aside from the large crowds, Morgan said she had also seen many people walk around with books in hand. She said she had been hearing great things from vendors about the traffic they have been getting and the numbers of sales.
A post-pandemic crowd at the 蜜柚直播 Festival of Books was as big as the crowds in previous years.
This year鈥檚 festival seemed to have one common theme: people were happy to be back to normal.
鈥淚 am so thrilled we were able to be in person,鈥 Morgan said. 鈥淏eing able to actually see others and be with the crowds is just amazing.鈥
This year was the first year at TFOB for Brie Chillious, a children鈥檚 librarian. In 2020, Chillious was supposed to moderate for an event in the children鈥檚 section of the festival. Unfortunately, the festival ended up getting canceled that year.
鈥淚鈥檓 happy to be here two years later, Chillious said. 鈥淚鈥檓 hoping to see a children鈥檚 author walking around and tell them I鈥檝e read their books during story time.鈥
Most of all, Morgan was happy to see the community gather together and enjoy the festival.
鈥淔or me, the board of directors and all of the people planning it, it鈥檚 a gift to the community,鈥 Morgan said. 鈥淭o see the community coming and enjoying it, interacting with the authors in the sessions and out here with the vendors and entertainers really makes a huge difference for me.鈥
Photos: 2022 蜜柚直播 Festival of Books
蜜柚直播 Festival of Books: Final Day
Quinn Heimburger, 5, center, holds a Rosy Boa named "Rosy" while her family and other 蜜柚直播 Festival of Books attendees watch at the 蜜柚直播 Herpetological Society booth during the final day of the 蜜柚直播 Festival of Books on the University of 蜜柚直播 Mall at the UA in 蜜柚直播, Ariz. on March 13, 2022.
蜜柚直播 Festival of Books
Adam Borden finds a bit of shade and space away from the crowd to do some actual reading during the opening day of the 蜜柚直播 Festival of Books on the University of 蜜柚直播 mall, 蜜柚直播, Ariz., March 11, 2022. The festival runs through Sunday, 9:30 to 5:30, with hundreds of vendors, authors, entertainment and food.
蜜柚直播 Festival of Books
Members of Ballet Folklorico La Paloma watch some of the others of their troupe perform before their own turn on the stage during the opening day of the 蜜柚直播 Festival of Books on the University of 蜜柚直播 mall, 蜜柚直播, Ariz., March 11, 2022.
蜜柚直播 Festival of Books
Piper Peruche meets a gopher snake courtesy of the 蜜柚直播 Herpetological Society's booth in the Science City section at the 蜜柚直播 Festival of Books on the University of 蜜柚直播 mall, 蜜柚直播, Ariz., March 11, 2022.
蜜柚直播 Festival of Books
Contortionist Emerald Gordon Wulf puts on her act with the LindleyLopez Circus during the opening day of the 蜜柚直播 Festival of Books on the University of 蜜柚直播 mall, 蜜柚直播, Ariz., March 11, 2022.
蜜柚直播 Festival of Books
The afternoon crowd streams around the vendor tents during the opening day of the 蜜柚直播 Festival of Books on the University of 蜜柚直播 mall, 蜜柚直播, Ariz., March 11, 2022.
蜜柚直播 Festival of Books
Travis Deyoe gets one of the Mt. Lemmon Sky Center's telescopes safely locked onto the sun in the Science City area on the opening day of the 蜜柚直播 Festival of Books on the University of 蜜柚直播 mall, 蜜柚直播, Ariz., March 11, 2022.
蜜柚直播 Festival of Books
Elik Manuel brings in the finishing piece, helping complete a three-by-three-by-three foot cube puzzle outside the University of 蜜柚直播 School of Math table during the opening day of the 蜜柚直播 Festival of Books on the University of 蜜柚直播 mall, 蜜柚直播, Ariz., March 11, 2022.
蜜柚直播 Festival of Books
Ashwin Patel watches his newly constructed drop rocket take off form the Mathematics Engineering Science Achievement/Raytheon launch pad during the opening day of the 蜜柚直播 Festival of Books on the University of 蜜柚直播 mall, 蜜柚直播, Ariz., March 11, 2022. The rockets are propelled by a two-liter bottle of liquid on a lever dropped on an empty two-liter bottle to create the requisite thrust.
蜜柚直播 Festival of Books
The early morning crowd meanders along the vendor tents during the opening day of the 蜜柚直播 Festival of Books on the University of 蜜柚直播 mall, 蜜柚直播, Ariz., March 11, 2022.
蜜柚直播 Festival of Books
The University of 蜜柚直播 Bookstore tent is thronged by eager readers during the opening day of the 蜜柚直播 Festival of Books on the University of 蜜柚直播 mall, 蜜柚直播, Ariz., March 11, 2022.
蜜柚直播 Festival of Books
Ashely Schott and her brother Tyler meet the popular gopher snake at the 蜜柚直播 Herpetological Society table in the Science City during the opening day of the 蜜柚直播 Festival of Books on the University of 蜜柚直播 mall, 蜜柚直播, Ariz., March 11, 2022.
蜜柚直播 Festival of Books
U.S. Congressman and author Adam Schiff chats with some fans after signing their copy of his book Midnight In Washington during the opening day of the 蜜柚直播 Festival of Books on the University of 蜜柚直播 mall, 蜜柚直播, Ariz., March 11, 2022.
蜜柚直播 Festival of Books
A long line waits to get into one of the forums in the Henry Koffler Chemistry and Biological Sciences Building during the opening day of the 蜜柚直播 Festival of Books on the University of 蜜柚直播 mall, 蜜柚直播, Ariz., March 11, 2022.
蜜柚直播 Festival of Books
Juan Elias, left, and Oliver Heald look over their moves while playing giant chess during the opening day of the 蜜柚直播 Festival of Books on the University of 蜜柚直播 mall, 蜜柚直播, Ariz., March 11, 2022. The two met for the first time to play the match.
蜜柚直播 Festival of Books: Final Day
蜜柚直播 Festival of Books attendee Ashlyn Brigges, center, looks at "You'd Be Home Now" by Kathleen Glasgow while other attendees check out a variety of books inside The University of 蜜柚直播 Bookstore's booth during the final day of the 蜜柚直播 Festival of Books on the UA Mall in 蜜柚直播, Ariz. on March 13, 2022.
蜜柚直播 Festival of Books: Final Day
蜜柚直播 Festival of Book attendees fill the University of 蜜柚直播 Mall while checking out the different booths during the final day of the 蜜柚直播 Festival of Books at the UA in 蜜柚直播, Ariz. on March 13, 2022.
蜜柚直播 Festival of Books: Final Day
Margaret Nadworny, right and her friend Melissa Masteller check out books inside The University of 蜜柚直播 Bookstore's booth during the final day of the 蜜柚直播 Festival of Books on the UA Mall in 蜜柚直播, Ariz. on March 13, 2022.
蜜柚直播 Festival of Books: Final Day
Raytheon software engineer Paul Sucro, wearing a red shirt, helps a 蜜柚直播 Festival of Books attendee launch their rocket inside the Science City area during the final day of the 蜜柚直播 Festival of Books on the University of 蜜柚直播 Mall at the UA in 蜜柚直播, Ariz. on March 13, 2022.
蜜柚直播 Festival of Books: Final Day
An attendee checks out "We Need New Names" by NoViolet Bulawayd inside The University of 蜜柚直播 Bookstore's booth during the final day of the 蜜柚直播 Festival of Books on the UA Mall in 蜜柚直播, Ariz. on March 13, 2022.
蜜柚直播 Festival of Books: Final Day
Diego Vega, 3 and half, gives Pete the Cat, played by University of 蜜柚直播 Bookstore employee Kennedy Bell, a high-five while walking with his dad (not pictured) inside the Children Village area during the final day of the 蜜柚直播 Festival of Books on the UA Mall in 蜜柚直播, Ariz. on March 13, 2022.
蜜柚直播 Festival of Books: Final Day
Lorrie Martinez checks out 蜜柚直播 Medical Center's Mega Brain inflatable display during the final day of the 蜜柚直播 Festival of Books on the University of 蜜柚直播 Mall at the UA in 蜜柚直播, Ariz. on March 13, 2022.
蜜柚直播 Festival of Books: Final Day
Attendees wait in a line to place their order at Beyond Bread during the final day of the 蜜柚直播 Festival of Books on the University of 蜜柚直播 Mall at the UA in 蜜柚直播, Ariz. on March 13, 2022.
蜜柚直播 Festival of Books: Final Day
Connor Perry, 12, right, and his bother Ryan Perry, 10, talk about Ryan Perry's move while playing chess during the final day of the 蜜柚直播 Festival of Books on the University of 蜜柚直播 Mall at the UA in 蜜柚直播, Ariz. on March 13, 2022.
蜜柚直播 Festival of Books: Final Day
Alissa Grant, aerialist in The Lindley Lopez Literary Circus, lays down in the back tent before the first performance of the day during the final day of the 蜜柚直播 Festival of Books on the University of 蜜柚直播 Mall at the UA in 蜜柚直播, Ariz. on March 13, 2022.
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