This Saturday, Sept. 6, the Library of Congress is throwing a party for book lovers: the 25th annual National Book Festival. It’s taking over the Walter E. Washington Convention Center from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. (doors open at 8:30 a.m.) and it’s totally free! We talked with Hannah Grieco, Washington City Paper’s Spot LIT columnist, about D.C.'s thriving literary community and the best books by D.C. authors you should know.
What to Expect
This year’s lineup is packed with more than 90 authors, poets, and illustrators, who will be doing everything from intimate readings to big-panel conversations, live read-alouds, and book signings. Fiction fans can look forward to Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, history buffs will find Jill Lepore, poetry lovers get Tracy K. Smith, and movie lovers will be delighted to see Geena Davis! Families with kids won’t be left out either — Kwame Alexander and Mac Barnett will be bringing their stories to life. Plus, the festival is designed to be inclusive, with ASL interpreters, live captioning, braille programs, tactile maps, assistive listening devices, and even a quiet room for when you might need a break.
How to Navigate the Festival
The best way to enjoy the day is to plan ahead. The Library of Congress has an online schedule you can filter by author or genre, which makes mapping out your must-see events a lot easier. Arriving early is key since the big-name sessions fill quickly. If you’re staying all day, think practically: comfortable shoes, water, and maybe a snack. But food and drinks will also be available inside, so don’t worry about going hungry! And don’t forget all the other extras — Politics & Prose will be on-site selling books for signings, and this year’s festival poster, designed by Louise Fili, is worth snagging as a keepsake.
Between events, you can take a break in the Library Lounge, a curated space designed for reading or relaxing. And if you can’t make it to everything, don’t stress — many sessions will be livestreamed and later posted online so you can catch them afterward.
Join DC’s Literary Community
The festival lasts just one day, but D.C.’s literary scene is buzzing all year. The Inner Loop runs regular readings and even a podcast, while the Writer’s Center in Bethesda offers classes and publishes Poet Lore, the country’s oldest poetry journal. Writers looking for a distraction-free space should check out the DC Writers Room, a no-frills, coffee-fueled coworking space.
Bookstores are another gateway into the scene. Politics & Prose is a D.C. institution, while Solid State and Loyalty Books are newer spaces that double as community hubs. Busboys & Poets hosts weekly open mics and author talks, and BloomBars in Columbia Heights brings people a chance to bring storytelling projects to life. Listen to this episode where we hear from an expert about D.C.’s best bookstores.
