Madison’s 24th Annual Fall Celebration Book Festival begins October 23
The 24th annual Wisconsin Book Festival is scheduled for October 23-26. Here are all the details.
The Madison Public Library, in partnership with the Madison Public Library Foundation, is hosting its 24th annual Fall Celebration Book Festival from October 23 to October 26. All events are free to attend and include both virtual and in-person options. Writers of nonfiction, fiction, poetry, and more will appear to discuss their work, along with a variety of exciting topics.
Scheduled discussions and book sales vary from one day to the next, and the festival is held across several locations in Madison, including the Central Library and Barrymore Theatre, to name a select few. Click here for the full event schedule. Here’s a list of participating Wisconsin Book Festival venues.
As someone who has attended a book festival before, I’d recommend going through the schedule before you arrive to determine which events you want to catch. That way, you can ensure you’re at specific locations early enough to get a good seat. If you want to experience the ebb and flow of the celebration though, you’re more than welcome to simply wander from one event or book sale to the next!
For those who want to prioritize going to the book sales (I’m right there with you), here’s what you need to know.
Two different books sales are scheduled during Madison’s book festival
The Madison Public Library is hosting multi-day book sales during its 24th annual Fall Celebration Book Festival. The Friends of the Madison Public Library Fall Book Sale will be held at the Central Library Friends Bookstore located at 201 W Mifflin St. Paperbacks will be available for $1 each, and hardcovers will sell for $2 each. There will be other gently-used items for purchase as well. The daily schedule for the sale is as follows:
- Wednesday, October 22 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Thursday, October 23 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
- Friday, October 24 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Saturday, October 25 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The Friends of UW Madison Libraries Book Sale is also being held October 22 through October 25 at the Memorial Library located at 728 State St. Some days of this sale require an entry or bag fee. The schedule and stipulations for that are:
- Wednesday, October 22 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. (preview sale, $5 entry fee required)
- Thursday, October 23 & Friday, October 24 from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. (regular sale, free to attend)
- Saturday, October 25 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. (bag sale, $5 per bag. You can bring your own bag or pay $1 to receive one there.)
From 1:05 p.m. until 2 p.m. on October 25, all remaining items will be available free of charge. Happy hunting!
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