Join us for a beloved annual celebration of books and authors on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. This year, we'll feature more than 40 authors, poets, booksellers, publishers, literacy groups, and more, including acclaimed national bestselling novelist Louis Bayard, author of The Pale Blue Eye, a mystery thriller adapted into a recent hit Netflix film starring Christian Bale. Other featured authors include debut novelist and former spy I.S. Berry; naturalist and certified forest therapy guide Melanie Choukas-Bradley; National Book Award finalist Carole Boston Weatherford; Washington Post columnist and Thurber prize finalist Alexandra Petri; award-winning educator and author Liz Kleinrock, whose TED talk, "How to Teach Kids to Talk About Taboo Topics," has garnered more than two million views; two-time Lambda Literary Award finalist Cheryl Head; and many more.

Visitors will meet some of their favorite authors of fiction, history, children's literature, mystery, poetry, memoir and more and enjoy timely panel discussions and a full slate of family-friendly activities in our bustling Children's Corner. The BookFest is completely free and open to the public, with a popular poetry open mic immediately following the main event, where established and aspiring poets will entertain an enthusiastic crowd.