BOOKMARKS Book Festival

BOOKMARKS 2007 Authors

The Mission of the BOOKMARKS Festival

BOOKMARKS is Winston-Salem’s festival of books. It is a one-day street festival that offers programming for all ages with free admission for everyone. BOOKMARKS is committed to the following: providing a positive literacy experience for all ages and family demographics in the Piedmont Triad area and beyond; encompassing our community’s diverse cultures through partnerships and collaborations; incorporating entertainment; and yielding a favorable and positive impact for the community.

Festival Overview

BOOKMARKS is designed to be a shared literary experience that will engage families and individuals of all ages and from all demographics, through a rich mixture of authors, books, readings, panels, storytelling, demonstrations, writing workshops, booksignings, and other interactive activities. The FOURTH EDITION of this regional festival is scheduled for Saturday, September 13, 2008.

The festival is set in Historic Bethabara Park, a large, open archeological park, transformed into a village-like environment of large enclosed tents housing each literary venue.

The festival is both educational and entertaining. Reading-related exhibitors and food vendors are included with the mix of literary activities and performances.

Free Admission.

The Origins of BOOKMARKS

BOOKMARKS held its first festival in 2004. Work for this project began through the dedicated action of a volunteer planning committee in 2001. In May of 2002, the BOOKMARKS concept to community leaders and received overwhelming support for the idea.

In 2005 and 2007, BOOKMARKS presented its second and third festivals, in Historic Bethabara Park, Winston-Salem, NC. The 2007 festival drew approximately 7,500 attendees from the Triad and beyond. Collectively, the three festivals have presented more than 200 authors, chefs, and illustrators.

BOOKMARKS is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that began as an expansion of the Junior League of Winston-Salem's READ TO ME children's festival and Book & Author Luncheon programs. BOOKMARKS was spun off as a separate entity in 2006, when it transitioned to a community-based volunteer organization. The BOOKMARKS book festival is truly a festival planned for the community by the community!

BOOKMARKS presents one or more smaller, targeted author-based events each year — such as the November 2006 “A Conversation with Jan Karon” and the October 2007 “A Conversation with Sue Monk Kidd — to continue delivery of quality literary content; collaborate with community organizations; and to contribute funds to providing a book festival for no admission charge to the public

BookMarks