Williamsburg Book Festival returns Saturday with authors from across the U.S.

WILLIAMSBURG – The Williamsburg Book Festival will return to the colonial capital of America once again for its 11th annual celebration, connecting families and book enthusiasts with over 75 authors, publishers and illustrators. 

The festival is free and open to the public and will be held at the William & Mary School of Education from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on March 7.

“I’m excited about hosting this event at the William & Mary School of Education this year,” Peter Stipe, president of the Williamsburg Book Festival Board, told The Triangle. “We’ll have four rooms for literature enthusiasts to interact with authors of different genres.” 

The family-friendly program will feature four speakers, an open mic program hosted by the Poetry Society of Virginia and a student writing contest awards ceremony.

Additionally, the Poet Laureate Panel will include Virginia’s current poet laureate, Mattie Q. Smith, and four previous Virginia poet laureates: Henry Hart, Sofia M. Starnes, Ron Smith and Carolyn Kreiter-Foronda.

Hart, a professor of English and Humanities at William & Mary, has authored eight books to date. His most recent work, “The Life of Robert Frost: A Critical Biography,” examines new details about the life and background of one of America’s foremost poets.

To Hart, poetry is not only a form of literary entertainment but also a powerful therapeutic tool, providing readers and writers with an outlet for physical and mental restoration.

“Poetry can heal you when you’re going through crises,” Hart told The Triangle.

An esteemed author and scholar, Hart attributes some of his success in the genre to the inspiration he gained from fellow local writers.

“I really benefitted from getting involved in the Williamsburg poetry scene and the Virginia poetry scene,” Hart said.

In addition to connecting people of all ages to diverse forms of literature and poetry, the festival will feature the Publishers’ Alley – a space where Virginia publishing companies display their books, host writers and editors and provide submission guidelines for aspiring authors.

In years prior, the festival was held at the Williamsburg Community Building, but its increasing popularity necessitated the move to the new, larger location at William & Mary.

The daylong event is expected to draw more than 600 visitors this year, Stipe said.

As Williamsburg continues to balance colonial history with its vibrant contemporary art scene, the Williamsburg Book Festival is a reminder that storytelling is at the heart of the community and is for residents, students and families alike.

“Having seen the festival grow to this point has been incredible. Right now, I believe we are the second largest [book festival] in Virginia, and we have writers coming in from all over the country,” Stipe said.