Photos: Opening day of the 2025 ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Festival of Books
The ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Festival of Books returned the University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ campus, on March 15-16th.Â
Established in 2009, the festival has grown exponentially over the years. In its inaugural year, it welcomed around 50,000 attendees and featured approximately 450 authors.Â
By 2019, attendance had surged to an estimated 140,000, underscoring the festival's significant cultural impact. Despite challenges in recent years, including a virtual format amid the pandemic in 2021, the festival continues to thrive, drawing over 130,000 visitors in 2024, according to longtime volunteer Bill Finley.
Thousands of people gather inside of the University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ campus on day one of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Festival of Books, March 15, 2025. The festival offers the community free and educational fun with live music, autograph sessions, special panels, and plenty of local and non-local makers to shop from. The Festival of Books continues 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday.
Naomi Nguyá»…n Hernandez paints a ceramic heart inside of the Ben’s Bells tent at ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Festival of Books, March 15, 2025.
Guests browse the comic books for sale inside of Fantasy Comics during the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Festival of Books at the University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, March 15, 2025.
Paola Ramos, an author and Emmy-Award winning journalist explains why she wrote her novel “Defectors: The Rise of Latino Far Right and What It Means for America†during the Race, Ethnicity and the Election panel inside of the Gallagher Theater, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Festival of Books, March 15, 2025.
People take a break from the live music, autograph sessions, special panels, and more during the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Festival of Books at the University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, March 15, 2025.
Furry Feline Creatives has an assortment of prints, handmade plushies, and comics for sale during ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Festival of Books at the University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, March 15, 2025.
People browse the selection of books for sale at the University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Press booth during ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Festival of Books, March 15, 2025.
University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Jazz Ambassadors play during the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Festival of Books, March 15, 2025.
Families enjoy their day inside of the Children’s Village during ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Festival of Books at the University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, March 15, 2025.
People browse a selection of rare books from A Good Story Collectible Books during the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Festival of Books at the University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, March 15, 2025.
Brian Shumaker poses for a photo inside of a cacti cut out in the Science section of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Festival of Books at the University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, March 15, 2025.
Kids learn about the environment inside of the National Park Service tent during ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Festival of Books at the University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, March 15, 2025.
Juan Williams, prizewinning journalist and author speaks about his new historic book “New Prize for These Eyes†during the Race, Ethnicity and the Election panel inside of the Gallagher Theater, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Festival of Books, March 15, 2025.
The National Park Service has a big cartoon cacti inside of their booth during ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Festival of Books at the University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, March 15, 2025.
Bookmans provides a large selection of books for guests of the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Festival of Books at the University of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥, March 15, 2025.
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