Literary Fest
A Literary Fest for all ages is coming to the City of Highland Park’s new alfresco entertainment space The Lot (523 Central) in downtown Highland Park on Saturday, September 10 from 12 PM-6 PM. This free event welcomes bibliophiles and literature lovers to the North Shore to celebrate the written word with a full schedule of events.
Two stages of literary entertainment will include interactive live storytellers, the Poetry Pentathlon North Shore, known as the “Olympics for Poets”, 35+ authors onsite signing and selling books, author panels/conversations, a “Book Club Bonanza” talk and Q&A presented by Lauren Margolin, the Good Book Fairy, new and used books for sale, historical displays, and more!
Main Stage:
12-12:45 PM: The Highland Park Public Library hosts story time.
1-1:45 PM: Bilingual storyteller Jasmin Cardenas brings her journey of stories from North, Central, South America and the Caribbean Islands in a mix of ancient legends, myths, folktales and personal stories while integrating elements of song, music and dance. Attendees will be on their feet by the end learning how to Latin dance.
2-3:30 PM: Lauren Margolin, aka the Good Book Fairy, will host a Book Club Bonanza, discussing “all things Book Clubs” with how to’s, do’s and don’ts. She will share her favorites as well as can’t-miss books for the upcoming Fall and Winter seasons, followed by a Q&A for attendees to ask her anything book-related! All readers, book club members or not, will enjoy this program.
4-5 PM: The dynamic storytelling duo of Kucha Brownlee and Baba Tony Brown bring their African folktales with drum and shakery for an energetic performance that’s culturally enriching, educational, and highly entertaining - offering a new rhythm for today’s oral tradition of storytelling.
5:15-6 PM: Third generation Japanese American Anne Shimojima was born and raised in Chicago and served as a school media specialist at Braeside School in Highland Park for 22 years. A renowned storyteller, Anne will tell magical and otherworldly tales to spark your imaginations! Sponsored by Friends of the Library.
Experiential Stage:
12-1:15 PM: Author Panel with Lauren Margolin, aka the Good Book Fairy onsite with her signature humor and heart in conversation with best-selling author’s Rochelle B. Weinstein and Ali Brady (penname of author duo Alison Hammer and Bradeigh Godfrey) to discuss Rochelle’s and Ali’s most recent books, “When We Let Go” and “The Beach Trap” respectively.
2-4 PM: Poetry Pentathlon North Shore - dubbed the “Olympics for Poets”- celebrating both the craft and performance of the art, testing all the skills of a poet with five rounds, 3 judges and 1 champion.
4:15- 5 PM: Best-selling children’s author Ruth Spiro of the “Baby Loves Science” series will read excerpts from her best-selling series while playing interactive games with attendees.
5:15 – 5:45 PM: The Highland Park Library hosts story time.
Additional highlights include:
An author signing/meet and greet area with over 35+ authors onsite throughout the day.
Abraham Lincoln Bookshop, Inc. showcasing in-print signed books with specialties of Lincoln, Presidents, and the U.S. Civil War, a Lincoln forgery display where people will have an opportunity to pick-out an embedded authentic Lincoln.
Grab a book and “Wine’d Down” with Lynfred Winery offering wine by the glass (and options for your next book club!)
Book Bin bookseller offering participating author books and more on sale!
Literary vendors such as American Writers Museum, East on Central, Friends of the Library used book sale, and more.