Read the Room

Books by the Banks Book Festival
Saturday, Nov. 18,10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Duke Energy Center, 535 Elm St.

Admission is free.
Find out more at booksbythebanks.org.

Books by the Banks 2023 Headliners!

• P. Djèlí Clark

• Elle Cosimano

• Richard Cowdrey

• Michael Harriot

• Will Hillenbrand

• Jason June

• Sarah Penner

• Thao Thai

• JaNay Brown-Wood

Ready to cozy up with a good book?

Head to Books by the Banks to find an incredible selection of books to add to your reading list plus family-friendly events perfect for even the youngest bookworms

The Books by the Banks Festival is a celebration of books, reading, and the cultural arts. This day-long event features national, regional, and local authors and illustrators; book signings; panel discussions; and activities for the entire family to enjoy.

The festival promises includes the return of a number of fan-favorite activities this year, with more than 100 authors in attendance, author panel discussions on reading, writing, and publishing, and the 2023 Writing Contest in Prose and Poetry in adult and teen categories.

This year, the popular Teen Scene returns and is all about cosplay. Along with creating cosplay pieces – including tattoo sleeves, Yoda ears, and unicorn headbands – attendees can also play games with your favorite teen and tween authors!

Over in the Kids Corner, don’t be surprised to find Superheroes! This year, the festival’s Kids’ Corner will be even bigger, so children and parents can marvel at the fantastic children’s authors and illustrators attending the festival. All activities are free and will make you feel super-powered to read more books!