Last Update: May 13, 2025 (General update)
Previous Update: Feb. 21, 2025 (added Books Books Books art)
This page lists the mid-Atlantic book festivals (and some beyond the mid-Atlantic) that I know of. THIS IS NOT AN ENDORSEMENT OR RECOMMENDATION BY MYSELF. 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. 26-28, 2025.
DelaConn 2025, Sonesta Select Newark Christiana Mall: Nov. 8, 2025.
District of Columbia
ApollyCon: April 23-26, 2026.
Malice Domestic: April 24-26, 2026.
Imaginarium Book Festival June 6-7, 2025.
National Book Festival: Sept. 6, 2025.
Maryland
Annapolis Book Festival: May 3, 2025
Balticon: May 23-25, 2025.
Book Fair at Bel Air: Aug. 25, 2025.
Write Women Book Festival, Bowie TERESA PESCHEL WILL ATTEND: Oct. 19-20, 2025.
Capclave (sci-fi short fiction): Sept. 19-21, 2025.
Gaithersburg Book Festival: May 17, 2025.
Fright Reads, Millersville, Md.: Sept. 13-14, 2025.
Charm City Romanticon, Ellicott City, Md.: April 10-12, 2026.
Kensington Day of the Book Festival, Kensington, Md.: April 27, 2025.
F. Scott Fitzgerald Literary Festival, Rockville, Md.: Oct. 17-18, 2025.
New Jersey
Collingswood Book Festival: Oct. 4, 2025
Montclair Literary Festival: April 26-May 3, 2025
Morristown Festival of Books: Oct. 10-11, 2025
Princeton Children’s Book Festival: On hiatus for 2025
New York
New York International Antiquarian Book Fair: April 30-May 3, 2026
New York City, Brooklyn Book Festival: Sept. 21, 2025
New York City, Harlem Book Fair: Aug. 30, 2025
Woodstock Bookfest: March 26-29, 2026
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 10, 2025.
Hershey Chocolate Town Book Festival: (Facebook Page) Oct. 4, 2025
Horror on Main, Harrisburg, Pa.: (Facebook Page) June 27-29, 2025
Lancaster, Books Books Books: Sept. 27, 2025
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 31, 2025
Indies Invade Philly: Nov. 8, 2025
Ebensburg, Pa., Festival of Books in the Alleghenies: Sept. 21, 2024.
State College BookFest: July 12, 2025
Virginia
Virginia Festival of the Book, Charlottesville, Va.: March 20-23, 2025
Farmville; Virginia Children’s Book Festival: Oct. 15-17, 2025
Fredericksburg; Book Festival: Oct. 4, 2025
Mechanicsville, Hanover Book Expo: Nov. 8, 2025
Martinsville-Henry County is for Book Lovers, Spencer, Va.: Sept. 20, 2025
Williamsburg Book Festival: No date for 2026
Other Book Festivals
Louisville, Ky.; Louisville Book Festival: Oct. 11, 2025
Ohioana Book Festival, Columbus, Ohio: May 3, 2025 (Ohio writers only)
Ohio, Grove City; Mid-Ohio Indie Author Book Expo: Aug. 9, 2025
Ohio, Wooster; Buckeye Book Fair: Nov. 1, 2025 (Ohio writers only)
Tennessee, Nashville; Southern Festival of Books: April 7, 2025
West Virginia Book Festival, Charleston, W.Va. (Facebook page): Oct. 25, 2025