• Advertise
  • Donate
  • Write
  • Intern
  • Events
  • About
  • Contact

The Austinot

Discover Austin Texas! An Austin blog with hundreds of unique articles.

  • Things To Do
    • Things To Do This Weekend
    • Things To Do This Week
    • Things To Do This Weekend With Kids
  • Discoveries
    • Austinot Loves
    • Activities
    • Day Trips
    • Local Business
  • Food & Drink
    • Food
    • Drink
  • Entertainment
    • Events
    • Film
    • Music
    • Nightlife
    • Theatre
  • Culture
    • Arts
    • History
    • Museums
  • Et Cetera
    • Non-Profits
    • Podcast
    • Archives

Weekend Full of Free Family Fun at Upcoming 2017 Texas Book Festival

October 27, 2017 by Amanda Sayers Leave a Comment

Woman Reading Texas Book Festival

Stroll around the beautiful grounds of the State Capitol where Texas Book Festival is held each year
(Credit: Bob Daemmrich)

Calling all avid readers; it’s that time of year again. The 2017 Texas Book Festival will be taking over the grounds of the Texas State Capitol on Nov. 4-5, 2017. This event is free and fun for the entire family.

Texas Book Festival, which is held annually, is one of the largest literary festivals in the country. Founded in 1995 by First Lady Laura Bush, the festival is a nonprofit organization that supports literacy programs and grants for Texas public libraries.

This year’s festival will be bigger and better than ever, featuring over 300 renowned authors, including several who call Austin home. It’s also the inaugural year for the Antone’s stage, where more than 10 local musicians will perform.

Many of the exhibits, panels, book signings, food venues, and family activities will be located inside the Capitol building or grounds. However, there are additional venues that will house certain activities. Allow this article to be your guide to all things local at Texas Book Festival this year, helping you make the most of your time during this fun and prestigious festival.

Texas Book Festival’s Local Venues

The Texas State Capitol is the primary venue for Texas Book Festival. Feel free to roam about the different rooms while you’re visiting, as there will be attractions throughout the building. If you’ve never been to the building, then you’re in for a real treat.  There will be several exhibitor tents set up on the grounds outside, perfect for an afternoon stroll.

➡️ Keep reading: “Creative Ways to Explore the Texas State Capitol in Austin”

Additional venues include:

  • First United Methodist Church Sanctuary (1201 Lavaca St., enter from Lavaca St.)
  • Central Presbyterian Church (208 E. 8th St.)
  • First Baptist Church (901 Trinity St.)
  • Omni Hotel Downtown (700 San Jacinto Blvd.)
  • The Austin Club (110 E. 9th St.)
  • The Contemporary Austin (700 Congress Ave.)

Event Highlights Featuring Local Authors

Attendees Strolling Texas Book Festival

The streets surrounding the Capitol feature exhibit tents and vendors (Credit: Bob Daemmrich)

Saturday, 10-10:45 a.m.

  • The Long Reach of Crime, featuring Meg Gardiner and Jan Reid
  • When All Hell Breaks Loose, featuring Owen Egerton

Saturday, 11-11:45 a.m.

  • The Good Old Sound of Austin, featuring Donna Marie Miller, Jesse Sublet, and Eddie Wilson

Saturday, 11:15 a.m.-12 p.m.

  • Exit Right: The Origins of Politics, featuring Daniel Oppenheimer

Saturday, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

  • How The Story Starts: A Barnes & Noble Discover Great New Writers Panel, featuring Jardine Libaire

Saturday, 1-1:45 p.m.

  • Waltz Across Texas, featuring Michael Corcoran

Saturday, 2-2:45 p.m.

  • American Wolf: A True Story Of Survival and Obsession In The West, featuring Nate Blakeslee

Sunday, 11-11:45 a.m.

  • Stories Of Family, Stories Of Self, featuring Carolyn Osborn

Sunday, 12-12:45 p.m.

  • Flipping The Villain: Good, Evil, And In Between In SFF, featuring Robert Jackson Bennett

Sunday, 1-2 p.m.

  • Read Me A Story with Chris Burton

Sunday, 2-2:30 p.m.

  • Read Me A Story with Don Tate

Sunday, 3:15-4 p.m.

  • Humor Out Of Heartbreak, featuring Deb Olin Unferth

You can find the full schedule here.

Local Musicians on the Antone’s Stage

  • Brad Stivers (Saturday, 11 a.m.)
  • Jabo & The Old Dogs (Saturday, 1 p.m.)
  • Bill Carter – Blues/Rock (Saturday, 2 p.m.)
  • Matthew Robinson & The Jelly Kings (Saturday, 3 p.m.)
  • Red Young & His Hot Horns (Saturday, 4 p.m.)
  • WhoDo (Sunday, 12 p.m.)
  • Ted Roddy & His One Man Trio (Sunday, 1 p.m.)
  • Don Leady’s Tail Gators (Sunday, 2 p.m.)
  • Tommy Shannon Blues Band (Sunday, 3 p.m.)
  • Miss Lavelle White & The L Men (Sunday, 4 p.m.)

Family Fun and More

Family Friendly Texas Book Festival

Tons of fun for the entire family at Texas Book Festival (Credit: Bob Daemmric)

All ages can participate and have fun at Texas Book Festival. You’ll find plenty to see, do, and eat! There are multiple tents with activities for children, including book readings and Kids Passport sessions, where kids can earn a coupon for a free scoop of Amy’s Ice Creams.

Be sure to arrive hungry, as there will be a plethora of local food trucks, joining in the fun and serving up some tasty treats. Central Market will have its own tent, so don’t miss the food demos there.

Know Before You Go

Texas Book Festival 2017

Find new books to relax with (Credit: Bob Daemmrich)

You can find a map for the festival here.

Beware of street closings in the area and use these walk-in points of entry:

  • 8th Street and Congress Avenue
  • 11th Street and Congress Avenue
  • 11th Street and San Jacinto Blvd.
  • 11th Street and Brazos Street
  • 12th Street and Colorado Street
  • 13th Street and Colorado Street

If you want a place to sit during a session, it is first come, first serve unless you have a Festival Friends Pass.

If you’re looking to purchase a book by one of the festival authors, you can find them in one of the BookPeople Sales tents.

If you’d like to join a signing line, you must purchase a book at one of the BookPeople Sales tents.

If you planned on bringing a book from home to be signed, there is no guarantee it’ll be allowed.

For the full schedule, lineup, and details, visit Texas Book Festival’s website. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

 

 

@amandalgagnon wants to know:

Who are your favorite local authors, and will you be attending Texas Book Festival this year?

Filed Under: Archives Tagged With: texas book festival

Best of The Austinot

We always have unique content on The Austinot and we love to give things away. You know, like concert tickets, gift cards, and other cool stuff. We only send out our “Best of the Austinot” newsletter twice a month. It’s where we give you a recap of our best articles and give stuff away. Interested? Subscribe to Best of The Austinot here!

Subscribe
Login
Notify of
guest
guest
0 Comments
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Connect with Us

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Things to do

Things to do in Austin this week of October 2

10 Fun Things to do in Austin this week of October 2 include Broadway Austin presents Six, House of Burton: Austin, and more

Our top choices for things to do in Austin this Week of October 2, 2023, include Broadway Austin presents Six, House of Burton: Austin, Maisie Peters in Concert, and more! Austin is now among the fastest-growing metroplexes in the US! Keeping up with the growth, luckily, there’s plenty going on in Austin all days of the week. […]

10 Things to do in Austin with kids this weekend of September 29, 2023 include Texas Pumpkin Fest 2023, Touch-a-Truck 2023, and more!

If there’s one thing about this city, it’s that there is always something going on. So, if you’re looking for fun things to do in Austin with kids this weekend of September 29, 2023, there’s plenty of fun to be had, including Texas Pumpkin Fest 2023, Touch-a-Truck 2023, Boulderfest 2023, American Indian Heritage Day 2023, and more! Editor’s […]

10 Fun Things to do in Austin this weekend of September 29, 2023 include Bat City Scaregrounds, St. Elias Mediterranean Festival, and More!

10 Fun Things to do in Austin this weekend of September 29, 2023 include Bat City Scaregrounds, St. Elias Mediterranean Festival, and More!

There are plenty of fun things to do in Austin this Weekend of September 29 which include Bat City Scaregrounds, St. Elias Mediterranean Festival, NAMIWalks Central Texas, Oktoberfest at Banger’s, and more! Whether you’re planning a date or having fun with friends, these events and things to do in Austin this weekend may be right for you. […]

Austin Labor Day Weekend 2023 Events - Top 10 Things to Do

Austin Labor Day Weekend 2023 Events – Top 10 Things to Do Include Fish Fry by ACLC, Cornhole Tournament at Frontyard Brewing, Live Music, Parties & More!

The much-awaited Labor Day 2023 is right around the corner! And as we all know, everybody wants to make the most of this special day and enjoy the last bits of summer. Labor Day pays tribute to the social and economic achievements of American workers. In addition to that, it also symbolizes the end of […]

Caverns in Texas - 12 Best Austin Caves & Cave Tours Near You

Caverns in Texas – 12 Best Austin Caves & Cave Tours Near You

Looking for caverns in Texas? Want to explore the best caves in Texas? Luckily, there’s a great mix of both in Austin! Before we dive into the different bat caves in Texas or caverns Texas has to offer, what’s the difference between the two? Well, while used interchangeably, a cave is a naturally occurring cavity […]

Recent Posts

  • 10 Fun Things to do in Austin this week of October 2 include Broadway Austin presents Six, House of Burton: Austin, and more
  • 10 Things to do in Austin with kids this weekend of September 29, 2023 include Texas Pumpkin Fest 2023, Touch-a-Truck 2023, and more!
  • 10 Fun Things to do in Austin this weekend of September 29, 2023 include Bat City Scaregrounds, St. Elias Mediterranean Festival, and More!
  • Rooftop Bar Austin – 20 Best Bars, Dinner Spots, High Rise Restaurants Near You
  • Austin Labor Day Weekend 2023 Events – Top 10 Things to Do Include Fish Fry by ACLC, Cornhole Tournament at Frontyard Brewing, Live Music, Parties & More!

Welcome to The Austinot

We are all about Austin: the vibe, the people and the uniqueness of the city. We love to explore. Get to know us! We’ll respond if you comment. Heck, we’ll probably invite you to come and hang out with us!

Follow along to help support and learn more about local businesses, artists, and events.

-The Austinot Team

Privacy Policy

Trending Posts

  • 10 Fun Things to do in Austin this weekend of September 29, 2023 include Bat City Scaregrounds, St. Elias Mediterranean Festival, and More!
  • Guide to Austin’s Dirty Sixth Street
  • 10 Things to do in Austin with kids this weekend of September 29, 2023 include Texas Pumpkin Fest 2023, Touch-a-Truck 2023, and more!
  • Austin’s Speakeasy Secrets (Shhh): Floppy Disk Repair Co.
  • 14 Cedar Park Restaurants Every Local Needs to Try

Copyright © 2023 · Log in

wpDiscuz
x
x