frequently asked questions

All festival activities take place in downtown Columbus at Main Library (96 S. Grant Ave) and the adjacent Topiary Park (corner of Town and Washington Streets).

 

Main Library will be open extended Sunday hours, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

 

View the Festival Marketplace Map

The Columbus Book Festival is a two-day event that celebrates a community of book lovers.

 

Inside Main Library, over 135 featured authors will talk about their newly released books in lively panel discussions in the library’s seven meeting rooms.

 

Outside, the Festival Marketplace in Topiary Park will be active with dozens of exhibitor tents, family-friendly entertainment, food trucks, merchandise tables and more.

 

FESTIVAL HOURS
Saturday, July 15
10 a.m.-5 p.m.

 

Sunday, July 16
10 a.m.-6 p.m.

 

See who’s coming on the Festival Authors page.

 

View the Festival Marketplace Map

This is an indoor and outdoor event and the show must go on!

 

The outdoor Festival Marketplace will still be held in the case of rain. Bring a poncho and support book sellers, festival merchant and food trucks.

All activities, panel discussions, author talks are free! There is no cost to attend the festival.

 

New and used books, festival merchandise, retail gifts and food & beverages will be for sale in the Festival Marketplace.

Four headliners will give author talks and over 135 national and Columbus-based authors in a variety of genres will be featured on more than 50 panel discussions.

 

See the full Featured Author Schedule

 

Another 90+ independent authors will be ready to meet you outdoors at Indie Author Alley.

 

See who’s coming on the Festival Authors page.

Book submissions were accepted September 2022 through January 2023.

 

Eligible books had to be published between January 1, 2022 and June 30, 2023.  Books from a variety of viewpoints and topics were considered based on how they fit into panel topics and themes featured in our festival.  

 

A Programming Committee reviewed all submissions in late January 2023 to make final selections.

Columbus Book Festival is committed to celebrating a broad range of cultures and ideas.

 

The festival will include books and genres that reflect abundant diversity. We will highlight authors with various life experiences and stories to create a festival experience that’s open to all, inclusive and diverse. 

New books from over 135 featured festival authors, plus a selection of their back-titles, will be available for purchase and signing during the festival in Main Library’s 2nd floor Reading Room.

 

The Official Festival Bookstore is a partnership between The Book Loft, Gramercy Books, and Prologue Bookshop. Support your local independent book stores by buying books at the festival!

Authors will hold signing sessions and meet & greets in Main Library’s 2nd Floor Reading Room immediately following their scheduled presentation.

 

Books can be purchased at the Official Festival Bookstore at any time during the festival weekend.

 

The Columbus International Airport is 15 minutes from downtown. Uber, Lyft and Yellow Cab service are available at the airport and throughout Columbus for ground transportation.

 

If you’re driving, multiple surface lots in the Discovery District will be available for Columbus Book Festival parking the weekend of the event. Stay tuned for a parking map.

 

Main Library has a 5-level attached parking garage and will provide free event parking.

 

COTA bus service and CoGo Bike Share bicycles are available throughout downtown.

We welcome all visitors to the Columbus Book Festival!

 

Room blocks are reserved at the hotels below and more will be added as necessary. Please use the links below to make your reservation.

 

Hotel LeVeque

Room Block Link:

https://www.marriott.com/event-reservations/reservation-link.mi?id=1675446991519&key=GRP&app=resvlink

 

Hilton Columbus Downtown

Room Block Link: https://book.passkey.com/go/FABF23

Access Code: FABF23

 

There are plenty of choices in and around downtown Columbus, including Airbnb and boutique and budget hotel options. Visit www.experiencecolumbus.com/hotels for more info.

Exhibit Space Still Available

There’s still time to apply! To reserve an exhibit booth or to vend at the Columbus Book Festival, you must either sell or promote books or book-related products/services, promote reading, or perform a literary or educational-based activity.

Contact Info

96 S. Grant Ave. 
Columbus, OH 43215

Email: bookfestival@columbuslibrary.org 

Phone: 614-645-2275