Schedule, ticketing, and more
Charlottesville — Today, Virginia Humanities announced the full schedule for the 31st annual Virginia Festival of the Book.
The festival, which takes place March 20-23 in Charlottesville, includes more than 110 authors and 65 thought-provoking discussions spread across beloved venues throughout Charlottesville's Downtown Mall and beyond.
Featured Authors and Headline Events
Same Page Community Read with Earl Swift
Thu. March 20, 2025
Each year, the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library invites all book lovers to participate in the Same Page Community Read, providing local residents with the opportunity to read and discuss a single book within their community by an author appearing at the Virginia Festival of the Book. This year, the 2025 Virginia Festival of the Book is thrilled to host Earl Swift, who will speak about his bestselling book Chesapeake Requiem: A Year with the Watermen of Vanishing Tangier Island.
Thu. March 20, 2025
Each year, the Jefferson-Madison Regional Library invites all book lovers to participate in the Same Page Community Read, providing local residents with the opportunity to read and discuss a single book within their community by an author appearing at the Virginia Festival of the Book. This year, the 2025 Virginia Festival of the Book is thrilled to host Earl Swift, who will speak about his bestselling book Chesapeake Requiem: A Year with the Watermen of Vanishing Tangier Island.
How Women Made Music: A Revolutionary History from NPR Music
Thu. March 20, 2025
The 2025 Virginia Festival of the Book is ready to rock! Join us for an evening of live music and even livelier conversation at our exclusive kickoff party. Desiré Moses, WNRN content director and contributing author to How Women Made Music: A Revolutionary History from NPR Music, hosts this electrifying event. Light bites and drinks will be provided to keep your palates entertained.
Thu. March 20, 2025
The 2025 Virginia Festival of the Book is ready to rock! Join us for an evening of live music and even livelier conversation at our exclusive kickoff party. Desiré Moses, WNRN content director and contributing author to How Women Made Music: A Revolutionary History from NPR Music, hosts this electrifying event. Light bites and drinks will be provided to keep your palates entertained.
Champagne and Cake with Louis Bayard and Emma Donoghue
Fri. March 21, 2025
Join us for a delightful afternoon of cake and champagne with bestselling authors, Louis Bayard and Emma Donoghue, whose recent works immerse readers in the world of the 1890s. Bayard’s The Wildes: A Novel in Five Acts brings to life the poignant, dramatic story of Oscar Wilde’s family, while Donoghue’s The Paris Express, inspired by a French railway disaster in 1895, takes readers on a breathtaking ride that blends real and invented characters from around the world.
Fri. March 21, 2025
Join us for a delightful afternoon of cake and champagne with bestselling authors, Louis Bayard and Emma Donoghue, whose recent works immerse readers in the world of the 1890s. Bayard’s The Wildes: A Novel in Five Acts brings to life the poignant, dramatic story of Oscar Wilde’s family, while Donoghue’s The Paris Express, inspired by a French railway disaster in 1895, takes readers on a breathtaking ride that blends real and invented characters from around the world.
Echoes of the Past: Historical Fiction Breakfast with Chris Bohjalian and Kimberly Brock
Sat. March 22, 2025
Enjoy breakfast with a generous side of history as Chris Bohjalian and Kimberly Brock explore stories of risk and deceit set against the backdrop of the American South. This annual festival favorite is not to be missed. Tickets sell out quickly, so be sure to register for this event in advance!
Sat. March 22, 2025
Enjoy breakfast with a generous side of history as Chris Bohjalian and Kimberly Brock explore stories of risk and deceit set against the backdrop of the American South. This annual festival favorite is not to be missed. Tickets sell out quickly, so be sure to register for this event in advance!
A Tribute to Nikki Giovanni: Celebrating a Legacy through Poetry, Music, and Dance
Sat. March 22, 2025
We're proud to honor the legacy of legendary poet Nikki Giovanni with an evening of dance, music, poetry and prose. We’re bringing together an array of authors, dancers, musicians and other performers, including Jericho Brown, Rita Dove, Tayari Jones, Remica Bingham-Risher, and the Leah Glenn Dance Theatre. Join us for what is bound to be a magical evening of reflection and celebration!
Sat. March 22, 2025
We're proud to honor the legacy of legendary poet Nikki Giovanni with an evening of dance, music, poetry and prose. We’re bringing together an array of authors, dancers, musicians and other performers, including Jericho Brown, Rita Dove, Tayari Jones, Remica Bingham-Risher, and the Leah Glenn Dance Theatre. Join us for what is bound to be a magical evening of reflection and celebration!
Tickets and Registration
One big change for 2025 is that attendees are asked to register for all the events they plan to attend. The vast majority of events remain free, with a few paid headline events. Registration will allow attendees to create an easy-to-follow online schedule; stay up to date about alerts, event changes, or other festival news; and easily purchase Festival tickets to ensure seating for paid events.
"We know this is a big change, but we hope everyone will see the advantage of registering for free events," said Kalela Williams, director of the Virginia Center for the Book. "Registration will help us gauge interest in topics, plan for book sales, and manage expected attendance levels, but it also is a great tool for audiences, too. It will make for a better festival experience for everyone."
More Information
For more information, including the full schedule of events visit VaBook.org. To stay up to date on the latest from the Festival of the Book, be sure to follow Virginia Humanities on Facebook, Instagram, and X and search for #VABookFest. You can also subscribe to the Festival e-newsletter.
About Virginia Humanities
Virginia Humanities is the state humanities council. We’re headquartered in Charlottesville at the University of Virginia, but we serve the entire state. We aim to share the stories of all Virginians—or, better yet, find ways for people to share their own stories. We want Virginians to connect with their history and culture and, in doing that, we hope we’ll all get to know each other a little better. Founded in 1974, we are one of fifty-six humanities councils created by Congress with money and support from the National Endowment for the Humanities to make the humanities available to all Americans. To learn more, visit VirginiaHumanities.org.
Virginia Humanities is the state humanities council. We’re headquartered in Charlottesville at the University of Virginia, but we serve the entire state. We aim to share the stories of all Virginians—or, better yet, find ways for people to share their own stories. We want Virginians to connect with their history and culture and, in doing that, we hope we’ll all get to know each other a little better. Founded in 1974, we are one of fifty-six humanities councils created by Congress with money and support from the National Endowment for the Humanities to make the humanities available to all Americans. To learn more, visit VirginiaHumanities.org.