The Columbus Book Festival is back this weekend, ready to turn downtown's Main Library and neighboring Topiary Park into a full-on literary crush of author talks, signings and book-loving crowds. The free two-day fest runs Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Organizers say more than 200 national and Columbus-based authors will be on hand across indoor panels and outdoor stages, with food vendors, live jazz and writing workshops spread through Kaufman Plaza and the Topiary grounds.
What to expect
According to the official Columbus Book Festival site, visitors can browse more than 100 exhibitor tents, an Indie Author Alley dedicated to independent writers and a festival marketplace staffed by local booksellers. Panels, book signings and family programming will take place inside Main Library, while two outdoor author stages and dozens of vendors will fill Topiary Park and Kaufman Plaza.
Headliners and highlights
As outlined by Columbus Metropolitan Library, five headliners will give featured talks this year: Kimberlé Williams Crenshaw, Laura Dave, TJ Klune, Paul Tremblay and Lisa See. The library notes the festival launched in 2023 to celebrate CML’s 150th anniversary and has since grown to include dozens of local partners and volunteer groups.
Ben Zenitsky, the library’s media contact, told NBC4 that "we started this book festival four years ago in 2023 as a way to celebrate Columbus Metropolitan Library’s 150th birthday." Fellow organizer Dorcas Jones added that "over the past four years we have had people start traveling in some other states," a sign that the event is pulling in a wider regional crowd.
Plan your visit
The festival is free to attend, though some headliner sessions may require a free ticket, and the official site lists the full author schedule and ticketing details. Attendees should prep for summer heat, bring water, wear sunscreen for the outdoor stages, and plan to arrive early for high-demand panels and signings.
Local shops and community impact
Local booksellers including The Book Loft, Cover to Cover, Gramercy Books and Prologue Bookshop will handle official book sales, according to the library’s festival release. The event also shows up on city tourism calendars as a key summer cultural draw, reflecting how it has evolved from a one-time birthday celebration into a regional attraction, as highlighted on Experience Columbus.
