Saturday & Sunday, May 17 & 18, 2008
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Philadelphia Book Festival Street Fair With more than 80 exhibitor tents lining 19th, 20th, and Vine Streets, the Street Fair features publishers, booksellers, nonprofit organizations, and independent authors selling books, sharing their missions, and presenting in-booth author signings and other activities throughout both festival days. Street fair highlights will include the Storybook Character Parade (12 noon on Saturday), street performances, free children’s activities, food concessionaires, and more! In the heart of the Central Library, enjoy readings and panel discussions by nationally and internationally recognized authors in the Montgomery Auditorium. If the Main Stage is full, you can watch the author presentations on the Jumbotron in front of the library. On the roof of the Central Library, the Skyline Salon will present readings and panel discussions by critically-acclaimed writers of fiction and nonfiction. At 20th and Vine Streets, the Target Children’s Stage will present free children's entertainment, including readings by well-known children’s authors, children’s theater, and age-appropriate musical performances. Follow the footprints to the Central Children’s Department where the 7-and-under crowd can enjoy a cozy story with a well-known children’s author or a dramatic storytelling performance! At 19th and Vine Streets, the music stage will present eclectic and popular live music. Gaming Gallery Get ready to play! On the first floor of the Parkway Central Library, the Gaming Gallery offers free open play featuring some of today's most popular video games, including Nintendo's Wii Sports, Sony Playstation's Guitar Hero III, and Dance Dance Revolution. On Vine Street, the Poetry Pavilion will present new work from local and nationally recognized poets and an “Open Mic.” Library Clubhouse Whether you're looking for a new job, a fun program for kids, or for an exciting opportunity to volunteer, books are just the beginning at the Free Library! Our library programs offer something special for every age and interest. Stop by the Library Clubhouse on Vine Street to learn more about Library programs including: Books Aloud!, LEAP, WORKPLACE, Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, the Mayor's Commission on Literacy, Books to Go, Volunteer Services, Author Events, the Youth Empowerment Summit, Science in the Summer, and Summer Reading for Adults. Sat.-Sun., 2:00-4:00 PM: Get a free take away photo with a character from the Storybook Parade! Sun., 2:00 PM: Limited free tickets to the 5 p.m. Barbara Walters program will be distributed on a first come, first served basis. Sat. & Sun., 11:00 AM-5:00 PM: Tell us what you think and win! Complete a festival survey and enter to win prizes, including a $250 Target Gift Card, a three-piece gift set from 1154 Lill Studio, girl's gift basket from L’Erbolario Italian beauty products. Raffle prizes furnished by Target and Cashman and Associates. At the corner of 20th and Wood Streets, the Friends Book Corner will present eclectic readings and performances and a big sale of gently used books, all proceeds of which benefit the Free Library of Philadelphia. And many more events will be occuring All Around the Library!
Books for Festival Program Author Events will be sold on-site by Joseph Fox Book Shop, Children's Book World, and Friends Book Corner. A portion of proceeds from these sales benefit the Free Library of Philadelphia (from Friends Book Corner, it's 100%). Thank you! |
Catch the FREE Book Festival trolley at 17th and JFK (Suburban Station) or 16th and Locust (Patco)! The trolley will run on a continuous loop during Festival hours.