Last Update:Oct. 14, 2024 (Horror on Main, Harrisburg added)
Previous Update: Sept. 29, 2024 (general update)
This page lists the mid-Atlantic book festivals (and some beyond the mid-Atlantic) that I know of. A listing does not mean I endorse it. We update this page four times a year, and sometimes in between if I come across fresh information. Click on the link to the festival’s page to get the latest information.
Many festivals don’t update their pages until about six months before, and if no information is on their page now, I write “no details.” Click on their link to receive the latest information.
Looking for more festivals?
Check the Facebook group Author Events Around the U.S. It’s private; you have to apply, but all you have to do is promise not to self-promote. Most of the events are for romance writers, but there are some for other genres. Bonus: In their Files folder, they link to a Google Docs spreadsheet containing an updated list of all events, so you can search that by location.
A public website to visit for more book festivals around the 50 states can be found at Book Marketing Bestsellers.
Here’s a link to more book festivals outside the mid-Atlantic region, particularly for African-American authors.
Plus, we have these for your consideration:
Promote your event here
If you want an festival listed that we don’t know about, email us at peschel -at- peschelpress.com
If you’re planning to apply as a featured author or to sell books as a vendor, get in touch with the festival as soon as possible. Some accept applications more than eight months before the date.
Connecticut
RomantiConn, Trumbull: July 25-26, 2025 TICKETS ON SALE NOV. 16 at 8 AM.
Delaware
Friends of the Library Book Fest, 114 E. Liberty St., Harrington, DE: Oct. 5, 2024.
History Book Festival, Lewes: Sept. 27-29, 2024.
DelaConn 2024, Newark: Nov. 2, 2024.
District of Columbia
ApollyCon: April 9-13, 2025.
Malice Domestic: April 25-27, 2025.
Imaginarium Book Festival June 6-7, 2025.
National Book Festival: Aug. 24, 2024.
Maryland
Annapolis Book Festival: May 3, 2025
Balticon: May 23-25, 2025.
Baltimore Book Festival: No date set for 2025.
Book Fair at Bel Air: Aug. 10, 2024.
Write Women Book Festival, Bowie TERESA PESCHEL WILL ATTEND: Oct. 19-20, 2025.
Capclave (sci-fi short fiction): Sept. 27-29, 2024.
Chessiecon (sci-fi/fantasy): CANCELLED FOR 2024.
Gaithersburg Book Festival: May 17, 2024.
Fright Reads, Millersville, Md.: Sept. 28-29, 2024.
Charm City Romanticon, Ellicott City, Md.: April 4-6, 2025.
Kensington Day of the Book Festival, Kensington, Md.: April 27, 2025.
F. Scott Fitzgerald Literary Festival, Rockville, Md.: Sept. 28, 2024.
New Jersey
Collingswood Book Festival: Oct. 5, 2024
Montclair Literary Festival: April 27-May 4, 2024
Morristown Festival of Books: Oct. 18-19, 2024
Princeton Children’s Book Festival: Oct. 5, 2024
New York
New York International Antiquarian Book Fair: April 3-6, 2025
New York City, Bronx Book Fair: No info for 2025
New York City, Brooklyn Book Festival: Sept. 22-30, 2024
New York City, Harlem Book Fair: Sept. 7, 2024
Woodstock Bookfest: April 4-6, 2025
Pennsylvania
American Library Association Conference, Philadelphia: June 26-30, 2025.
Lehigh Valley Book Festival: March 29-30, 2025
Easton Book Festival: Oct. 13-20, 2024
Harrisburg Book Festival: October 9-13, 2024.
Hershey ArtFest: May 2025.
Hershey Chocolate Town Book Festival: (Facebook Page) Oct. 5, 2024
Horror on Main, Harrisburg, Pa.: (Facebook Page) June 27-29, 2025
Lancaster, Books Books Books: Sept. 21, 2024
Lancaster, Once Upon A Con (Fantasy/Romance): Aug. 14-17, 2025
Latrobe, Westmoreland Arts and Heritage Festival: July 3-6, 2025
Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books: May 11, 2024.
Indies Invade Philly: Nov. 9, 2024.
Ebensburg, Pa., Festival of Books in the Alleghenies: Sept. 21, 2024.
State College BookFest: July 13, 2024
Virginia
Fall for the Book, Fairfax, Va. (no dealers room): Oct. 12, 15-18, 2024
Virginia Festival of the Book, Charlottesville, Va.: March 20-23, 2025
Farmville; Virginia Children’s Book Festival: Oct. 16-18, 2024
Fredericksburg; Book Festival: Oct. 12, 2024
Mechanicsville, Hanover Book Expo: Nov. 9, 2024
Martinsville-Henry County is for Book Lovers, Spencer, Va.: Sept. 20, 2025
Williamsburg Book Festival: Feb. 22, 2024
Other Book Festivals
Louisville, Ky.; Louisville Book Festival: Oct. 18-19, 2024
Ohioana Book Festival, Columbus, Ohio: April 20, 2024 (Ohio writers only)
Ohio, Grove City; Mid-Ohio Indie Author Book Expo: Aug. 9, 2024
Ohio, Wooster; Buckeye Book Fair: Nov. 2, 2024 (Ohio writers only)
Tennessee, Nashville; Southern Festival of Books: Oct. 26-27, 2024.
West Virginia Book Festival, Charleston, W.Va. (Facebook page): Oct. 19, 2024