Virginia Festival of the Book 2024: Celebrating Authors, Music, and Literary Legends

by Alyssa Davis

The Virginia Festival of the Book, an annual literary celebration organized by Virginia Humanities, is set to take place from March 20 to March 23. The festival, hosted under the Virginia Center for the Book, brings together authors, readers, and literary enthusiasts for a series of engaging discussions, performances, and special tributes.

Festival Opens with a Musical Celebration

The event will begin with a celebration of women in music. Charlottesville-based band The Golden Hours, featuring Suz Slezak and Lauren Plank Goans, will perform at the opening party. Additionally, WNRN content director Desiré Moses will lead a discussion on the impact of women in the music industry.

A Special Tribute to Nikki Giovanni

One of the highlights of this year’s festival is a tribute to the late poet Nikki Giovanni, who passed away in December. Giovanni, a widely respected writer and former member of Virginia Humanities’ board of directors, left a lasting impact on the literary world.

“This tribute will not be a typical author event,” said Kalela Williams, director of the Virginia Center for the Book.

The program will feature a reading by former U.S. Poet Laureate and University of Virginia professor Rita Dove, as well as live music and a dance performance. Pulitzer Prize-winning poet Jericho Brown and other writers will also present readings in honor of Giovanni’s legacy.

“Whether or not you are familiar with Giovanni’s work, we wanted to invite people to celebrate this literary icon with us,” Williams added.

A Diverse Lineup for All Readers

The Virginia Festival of the Book offers a wide range of programming beyond poetry.

“We have everything from poetry to nonfiction,” Williams said, emphasizing that there is something for every literary taste.

On March 20, festivalgoers can attend a discussion on Earl Swift’s bestselling book Chesapeake Requiem: A Year with the Watermen of Vanishing Tangier Island.

For young readers, the Teenage Wasteland panel will explore stories about young protagonists navigating complex adult situations.

Fans of historical fiction can look forward to a special event featuring Room author Emma Donoghue and The Pale Blue Eye author Louis Bayard. Attendees will enjoy cake, champagne, and a discussion of each author’s latest novel, both set in the late 19th century.

With a mix of literature, music, and thought-provoking conversations, this year’s Virginia Festival of the Book promises to be a celebration of storytelling in all its forms.

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