Last Update: Oct. 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 24-25, 2026 Ticket information
Delaware
Friends of the Library Book Fest, 114 E. Liberty St., Harrington, DE: Sept. 27, 2025.
History Book Festival, Lewes: Sept. 25-27, 2026.
DelaConn 2026, Sonesta Select Newark Christiana Mall: March 21, 2026.
District of Columbia
ApollyCon: April 23-26, 2026.
Malice Domestic: April 24-26, 2026.
Imaginarium Book Festival June 5-6, 2026.
National Book Festival: Sept. 6, 2025.
Maryland
Annapolis Book Festival: May 2, 2026
Baltimore: Indies and Bookworms Aug. 15, 2026. Tickets
Balticon: May 22-25, 2026.
Book Fair at Bel Air: Aug. 8, 2026.
Capclave (sci-fi short fiction): Oct. 2-4, 2026.
Gaithersburg Book Festival: May 16, 2026.
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 26, 2026.
F. Scott Fitzgerald Literary Festival, Rockville, Md.: Oct. 18, 2025.
New Jersey
Collingswood Book Festival: Oct. 4, 2025
Montclair Literary Festival: May 2-9, 2026
Morristown Festival of Books: Oct. 9-10, 2026
New York
New York International Antiquarian Book Fair: April 30-May 3, 2026
New York City, Brooklyn Book Festival: Sept. 27, 2026
New York City, Harlem Book Fair:Aug. 29, 2026
Pennsylvania
American Library Association Conference, Chicago: June 25-29, 2026.
Lehigh Valley Book Festival: March 27-29, 2026
Harrisburg Book Festival: October 15-19, 2025.
Hershey ArtFest: May 9, 2026.
Hershey Chocolate Town Book Festival: (Facebook Page) Oct. 3, 2025
Horror on Main, Harrisburg, Pa.: 2026
Lancaster, Books Books Books: Sept. 26, 2026
Latrobe, Westmoreland Arts and Heritage Festival: July 2-5, 2026
Greater Pittsburgh Festival of Books: May 30, 2026
Virginia
Virginia Festival of the Book, Charlottesville, Va.: March 20-22, 2026
Farmville; Virginia Children’s Book Festival: Oct. 15-17, 2025
Fredericksburg Book Festival: 2026
Mechanicsville, Hanover Book Expo: Nov. 8, 2025
Williamsburg Book Festival: March 7, 2026
Other Book Festivals
Louisville, Ky.; Louisville Book Festival: 2026
Ohioana Book Festival, Columbus, Ohio: April 18, 2026 (Ohio writers only)
Ohio, Grove City; Mid-Ohio Indie Author Book Expo: Aug. 8, 2026
Ohio, Wooster; Buckeye Book Fair: Nov. 7, 2026 (Ohio writers only)
Tennessee, Nashville; Southern Festival of Books: Oct. 18-19, 2025
West Virginia Book Festival, Charleston, W.Va. (Facebook page): Oct. 25, 2025