The 2024 Tucson Festival of Books is … in the books.
The festival held over the weekend on the University of Arizona campus drew thousands of people and featured 400 authors, nearly 200 exhibitors, more than 200 sponsors and more than 60 musical acts.
Brenda Viner is on the Tucson Festival of Books (TFOB) board. She said about 130,000 people attended the annual event.
“Because it’s a free event, the price of admission is only your imagination and your love for reading,” said John M. Humenik, a former Arizona Daily Star publisher who is a founder of the festival and board member.
“The festival is truly a community gathering where all walks of life enjoy the many activities and opportunities to celebrate authors, support literacy, and learn together in Tucson — the city that reads,” Humenik said.
Humenik said author sessions and children’s area activities are some of the event’s most popular.
“The author sessions provide a unique opportunity to hear a favorite author and then meet the author as he or she signs your book,” Humenik said. “That’s a memory that many people tell us they’ll never forget about their TFOB weekend experience.
“Science City and events and activities in the children’s area provide hours of fun and learning for all ages. Those areas were again some of the most visited and engaging,” he added.
Humenik called the Tucson Festival of Books “a collaborative effort.”
“The proof can be seen in a number of ways, including watching many of today’s leading authors sitting side-by-side with readers and other authors in the audiences and the 2,000 volunteers and generous sponsors who make the festival possible each year.”
Though the festival just wrapped up Sunday, plans for 2025 have already begun, Humenik said.
“A two-day festival of this size is a year-round endeavor. We’re already planning for 2025 and thinking about the next group of leading authors we’ll invite to join us next year,” he said. “It’s amazing the interest authors have in being a part of TFOB and visiting Tucson. TFOB, the University of Arizona, and Tucson are a powerful combination.”
Exact dates for 2025 TFOB have not been released yet, but the event usually occurs the last weekend of spring break.
