From Oct. 6th-15th, the annual Fall for the Book festival will host nearly 100 authors on George Mason’s Fairfax campus, at nearby Northern Virginia locations, and virtually. All events are free and open to the public.

Here are five reasons you should attend:

1. It’s fun for the whole family. Bring a smile to your kids’ faces on Saturday, Oct. 8th, during the City of Fairfax’s Fall Festival. Among other things, preschoolers can join Chiêu Anh Urban for interactive storytelling, elementary-aged kids can craft with Debra Kempf Shumaker, and middle-graders can try their hand at sports writing with Fred Bowen and do a STEM experiment with Shana Keller.


2. It’s a perfect “date day” for book lovers. What better way to impress your date than a full day of bookish fun? On Sat., Oct. 15th, park (for free) in GMU’s Lot K, and then check out a cornucopia of events, from dance and poetry collaborations to haunting stories and thought-provoking panels on book banning. Meet “Planet Money” co-host Mary Childs and get Capital Weather Gang meteorologist Matthew Cappucci’s take on extreme weather events.


3. It promises psychological intrigue. Huddle up with your book-club buddies and listen to authors Thomas Wolf and Patricia L. Bryan discuss The Plea: The True Story of Young Wesley Elkins and His Struggle for Redemption. Then go behind the veil of cult life with Sarah Edmondson, author of Scarred: The True Story of How I Escaped NXIVM, the Cult that Bound My Life, and Amanda Montell, author of Cultish: The Language of Fanaticism. For even more thrills, check out Andrew Joseph White, author of Hell Followed with Us, and Valerie Nieman, author of In the Lonely Backwater, as they take YA fans on a wild ride of secrets and darkness.


4. It’s graphic (as in novels). If graphic novels are your thing, come see Jonathan Roth, author of Rover and Speck: This Planet Rocks! Continue the fun with John Gallagher, author of Max Meow. And remember: Graphic novels aren’t just for kids! Hear about the power of comics and the importance of reading diversely with Gene Luen Yang, creator of New Super-Man (from DC Comics) and American Born Chinese, as he talks about his latest book, Dragon Hoops. Don’t feel like leaving the house? Watch legendary comics writer/illustrator Alan Moore virtually via Crowdcast. These events are guaranteed to satisfy your inner artist!


5. Your favorite authors (present and future) will be there! Rockstars of the writing world are going to take the festival by storm. Kick things off with climate expert Michael E. Mann at a presentation on his new book, The New Climate War. Then feel inspired by Olympic Gold Medalist Briana Scurry as she shares from her memoir, My Greatest Save: The Brave, Barrier-Breaking Journey of a World Champion Goalkeeper. Wrap up the festivities with bestselling author Emily St. John Mandel as she reads from her latest genre-defying novel, Sea of Tranquility.

Clearly, you don’t want to miss this year’s festival! View the full schedule here or pick up a program at your local Fairfax County Public Library branch.

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