Miami Book Fair
The date for this event has passed. A new date will be provided when available.
$10 for adults, $5 for 13 to 18 and over 62 / 12 and under: FREE
By: Carolyn Keating | Oct. 28, 2019
The Main Event
The 2019 Miami Book Fair takes place from November 17 to 24 in Downtown Miami on the campus of Miami Dade College. This annual event draws more than 500 authors and literary luminaries to Miami for lectures, readings, panel discussions and a street fair. "Every author comes ready for dialogue, presenting a book that frequently animates our national discourse," says Lissette Mendez, Director of Programs, Miami Book Fair, Miami Dade College.
Its a literary extravaganza made all the more special by Miamis multi-ethnic population. That means youll hear authors read from their books in English, Spanish, French and Kreyol; youll taste international foods at the fairs kiosks; and you can dance to the rhythms of jazz, soul, flamenco and bossa nova at the Porch the Book Fairs open air stage. Best of all, you will be surrounded by Miamis palm trees, blue skies and fresh bay breezes.
The Street Fair & Festivities
The bulk of Miami Book Fairs programming takes place on Saturday, November 23 and Sunday, November 24 when the Street Fair is in full swing. Readings and other events are scheduled across the Miami Dade campus. Highlights this year include filmmaker John Waters, Blondie singer Debbie Harry, Ambassador Susan Rice, U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo, conservative columnist George Will and United States Ambassador to the United Nations, Samantha Power. Pulitzer Prize winners and Miami Herald columnists Dave Barry and Leonard Pitts, Jr. will be there, along with Miami-centric crime fiction writers Carl Hiaasen (Strip Tease, Razor Girl) and James Grippando (author of the Jack Swyteck Series). At the Miami Book Fair, graphic novels rub shoulders with political diatribes, zines, comic books, childrens books, cook books, poetry, vintage books and so much more.
Families will want to check out to Childrens Alley, where storytellers, arts and crafts, and live music keep tweens, teens and young adult readers engaged in the magic of books. Since little readers become lifelong readers, the Book Fair accepts donations of gently used childrens books. You can also buy a new book for a child in need.
Street Fair Admission
Friday, November 22: admission is FREE.
Saturday and Sunday, November 23 and 24: $10 for adults; $5 for ages 13 18 and over 62; FREE for kids ages 12 and under. No need to wait in line at the entrance if you purchase your tickets in advance.
An Evening With Series
The Evenings With series acts as a prelude to the fairs weekend, when high profile authors command a large audience. These are ticketed events that often sell out fast, so if theres someone you want to see, be sure to buy your tickets in advance. This years An Evening With series will feature Ta-Nehisi Coates, Samantha Power, Gioconda Belli, Eve Ensler, George F. Will, Mo Rocca and Debbie Harry, among others. The series concludes Friday night with An Evening With the National Book Awards Winners and Finalists in fiction, nonfiction and poetry.
Year Round Book Fair Events
Miami Book Fair programming enriches the citys cultural landscape year-round. Each year at the Book Fair, ReadCaribbean draws Caribbean authors for lively discussions on the diverse literary culture of the Caribbean, including the challenges many face when emigrating from island nations. The Miami Book Fair also supports the Little Haiti Book Fair, which takes place in May at the Little Haiti Cultural Complex. Other literary programming includes creative writing workshops, a literacy initiative, events in Spanish and the annual Paz Prize for Poetry. Books & Books is Miamis largest indie bookstore and a founding member of the Book Fair. It holds author events almost every day of the year at its locations in Coral Gables, South Beach, Downtown Miami and beyond.
Local Flavor
Miami currently boasts a thriving tropical garden of independent and small presses. Jai-Alai Books, Jitney Books, EXILE Books, Lominy Books, Akashic Books, Books & Books Press and others are all adding to Miamis literary landscape in unique ways. Many will be showcasing their authors novels, poetry, art books and zines at the Miami Book Fair. If you go, be sure to browse Miamis talented homegrown writers.
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