When literature lover Elle Green, along with a slew of like-minded individuals, hosted the inaugural Bucks County Book Festival on the streets of Doylestown in October 2018, this first-of-its-kind event in the area was an instant success.
More than 2,000 guests, some hailing from New York, Maryland and Ohio, came out to experience artist and illustrator meet-and-greets, workshops and more. The event enjoyed even bigger success the following year.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the festival was last year forced to transition to a virtual format, featuring keynote speaker Ibram X. Kendi, who discussed his bestselling book How To Be An Antiracist.
But this year, book fanatics can choose how they want to celebrate their passion, whether it be in-person or virtually.
The fourth annual Bucks County Book Festival is returning on Friday, Sept. 24 through Sunday, Sept. 26, with offerings in Doylestown and online. Highlights are slated to include professionally published authors Christina Baker Kline and Jason Reynolds, the favorite tradition “Writers Workshop” and a new event “Book Fest on the Green.”
“We’re back and bringing some amazing storytellers to Bucks County,” said festival founder Green. “The ability to gather together again is incredible and I hope everyone will come out to meet these authors and support Book Fest.”
Festivities commence on Friday, at 7 p.m., with an in-person lecture by Baker Kline at Salem United Church of Christ, 186 E. Court Street. She is a No. 1 New York Times bestselling author of eight novels, including The Exiles, Orphan Train and A Piece of the World. Baker Kline’s novels have received the New England Prize for Fiction, the Maine Literary Award and a Barnes & Noble Discover Award, and have been chosen by hundreds of communities, universities and schools as “One Book, One Read” selections.
On Saturday, from noon to 4 p.m., “Book Fest on the Green” comes to the grounds of the Mercer Museum. Ticket holders will have the opportunity to explore pop-up author and book sale tents hosting 19 authors throughout the afternoon, including Tsering Wangmo Dhompa, Alan Drew, Allener M. Baker-Rogers, Fasaha M. Traylor, Olivia Campbell, Te-Ping Chin, Katelyn Detweiler, L.R. Dorn (Suzanne Dunn), Lee Harper, Charles Lattimore Howard, Christine Kendall, Maya Lang, Adam Lehrhaupt, Seamus McGraw, Laura Sibson, Mike Sielski, Philip William Stover, Chuck Wendig and Kate White.
“We are thrilled to host such an inspiring Bucks County Book Fest event here on the green of the Mercer Museum. The spirit of community collaboration drives Doylestown’s downtown cultural district, and what better way to celebrate culture than a book festival on the grounds of a beloved museum?” said Marjan Shirzad, vice president of community services and marketing at the Mercer Museum and Fonthill Castle, operated by the Bucks County Historical Society.
Later that evening, there will be a virtual keynote presentation with Reynolds, author of Ghost and All-American Boys. Reynolds is a No. 1 New York Times bestselling author, a Newbery Award Honoree, a Printz Award Honoree and a two-time National Book Award finalist. He’s also the 2020-21 National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature.
The weekend concludes on Sunday at Salem United Church of Christ with a “Writers Workshop” featuring authors Wangmo Dhompa and Drew. Wangmo Dhompa is the author of the poetry books My Rice Tastes Like the Lake, In the Absent Everyday and Rules of the House. Drew is the author of the literary thriller Shadow Man and the critically acclaimed debut novel Gardens of Water.
“We have a wonderful lineup of authors for the 2021 Bucks County Book Festival. I am so excited to introduce our community to these amazingly talented writers,” said Glenda Childs, owner of the Doylestown and Lahaska bookshops and member of the Bucks County Book Festival’s executive committee.
An all-access pass is $25 per person. An all-access pass with books is $60 per person. More information, including individual event ticket details, can be found at bucksbookfest.org.
Samantha Bambino can be reached at sbambino@newspapermediagroup.com
