Canadian book festivals
I was surprised by the sudden arrival of the fall season today in the northern hemisphere. Some people feel like it will soon be time to pull on the woolly coats and hibernate until the sun shines again, but I feel there is a reawakening going on in areas with vibrant student populations.
The energy on campus as first assignments come due and readings start to pile up is fantastic. And with a return to school comes a renewed focus on outreach programming related to literature and writing.
This Saturday, 28 September, The Word on the Street Book and Magazine Festival 2008 will be celebrated in five Canadian cities: Calgary, Halifax, Kitchener, Toronto and Vancouver. The Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia is sponsoring some excellent readings and local events not only in the week leading up to The Word on the Street Festival, but right on into October as well. And all this week, Thin Air, the Winnipeg International Writers Festival, is on. I particularly wish I could have swooped in for Andrew Davidson’s reading from The Gargoyle at Winnepeg’s Millennium Library. He’ll be in Toronto on 24 September, just in case you’re interested.
Any upcoming book or literacy festivals in your area?
