It's the time of year when white tents line the University of Arizona Mall and thousands of bookworms gather for the love of literacy.
The Tucson Festival of Books, the annual book bash that has been thriving and growing since its start in 2009, makes its return from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, March 9-10, on the UA campus. The free festival is dubbed the third-largest book event in the nation and the top nonprofit book festival in the country.
When the festival made its debut in 2009, around 50,000 attendees flocked to meet their favorite authors. This year, upwards of 140,000 attendees are expected to see the 300 presenting authors, according to the Arizona Daily Star.Β
Readers pack the University of Arizona Bookstores tent at the Tucson Festival of Books at the University of Arizona on Saturday, March 4, 2023.
Who will be there?
From TV star of "Better Call Saul" fame Bob Odenkirk (joined by his daughter Erin) to "Goosebumps" creator R.L. Stine, hundreds of authors will host presentations, panels, workshops and book signings at this year's Tucson Festival of Books. A slew of local authors, from Henry Barajas to Lydia Otero to Jillian Cantor, will also be in attendance.Β
Also on the lineup this year: Ed Begley Jr., Sarah Cooper, T.J. Klune, Dante Lauretta, Abraham Verghese,Β Jean Kwok,Β Cherie Dimaline,Β C.J. Box,Β Julia KellerΒ and Jonathan Maberry, among hundreds of others. You can find the full list of authors here, plus a list of indie authors here. To start planning your day(s), check out the schedule of panels and discussions here.Β
Panels include "Badass Women with Badass Heroines," "Surviving, Thriving in the Borderlands," "Indigenous Stories by Indigenous Voices," "Looking Beyond the Stars" and "Why Kids Love Spooky Stories." You'll also find workshops about screenwriting, publishing cookbooks and drawing.Β
The festival draws all ages each year, including kids! In fact, Tucson has become one of the largest gatherings in all of children's literature, the Arizona Daily Star wrote.
Many children's and teen's authors will be in attendance this year, including Kate DiCamillo, Vashti Harrison, Lian Cho, Chris Eliopoulos and, of course, Adam Rex who will moderate the popular illustrator draw-off as the festival comes to a close on Sunday.Β
Nicole Colon, a PhD student in Plant Science, shows kids how to extract DNA from a strawberry in Science City at the 2019 Tucson Festival of Books.
What else should I expect?
Science City is also a big draw for the kiddos (and the kids at heart!), which features STEM-based interactive activities and learning experiences from organizations like Tucson Audubon Society, Tucson Electric Power and the Mt. Lemmon SkyCenter.
Beyond the very beloved Science City area, attendees can expect lots of entertainment including a storybook parade on Saturday morning, a scavenger hunt, crafts, live animals from the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and performances by Circus Academy of Tucson. You might even meet an adored storybook character, like Curious George.Β
The festival is even launching a songwriter stage in collaboration with the Tucson Folk Festival, so live music will grace the event this year. You'll hear jazz, blues, country, rock, mariachi and more. See the full entertainment schedule here.
Of course, you can't get through a busy day in the sunshine without food in your belly. More than 20 food vendors will be in attendance, including Tucson favorites like Beyond Bread, Renee's, Frost Gelato, Tucson Tamale, Cowpig and Zio Peppe. See the full list of food vendors (and their menus) here.Β
If all of that isn't enough, hundreds of exhibitors will set up along the UA Mall, selling books, showcasing authors and providing community resources.Β
Readers in the University of Arizona Bookstores tent at the 2023 Tucson Festival of Books.
Is the festival free?
The festival is free to attend.
Some panels will draw larger crowds, though, so you might want to snag tickets ahead of time. The tickets are free and can be selected by clicking the small ticket icon on the schedule of authors. Ticket reservations open March 4 and close March 8. (Not all events offer tickets.)
It's good to note that tickets are not required. There will be a percentage of seats available on a first-come, first-served basis the day of the event. Here's more information about ticketing.
Vince Miguel looks through comics in the Bookman's tent during the second day of the Tucson Festival of Books on the University of Arizona campus on March 5, 2023.
Need help navigating the festival?
Come Monday, March 4, at 6:30 p.m., the Tucson Festival of Books will host a discussion all about navigating the massive event. The discussion will take place at Tucson Medical Center's Marshall Auditorium, 5301 E. Grant Road.
