Twenty-five acclaimed and bestselling authors are coming to Lee County to talk to fans and sign books at the 26th annual Southwest Florida Reading Festival from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, March 1. The festival takes place at the Fort Myers Regional Library, 2450 First St., and brings in internationally recognized authors for adults, teens and children to celebrate the power of reading, promote literacy and library services and encourage a community-wide culture of reading for recreation and personal development.
The festival is a daylong event filled with diverse and dynamic author presentations, book signings, lively activities for teens and children, the latest library technology, youth writing award presentations, food trucks and more. Plus, every child and teen attending the event will receive a free book of their choosing, made possible by funding from festival sponsor Suncoast Credit Union.
“Seeing all the excitement centered around reading is such a rewarding experience,” Lee County Library System Director Mindi Simon said. “Kids have grown up with the annual tradition of attending the Southwest Florida Reading Festival and the Lee County Library System is honored to be part of their literacy journey.”
An Evening with the Authors, the reading festival’s featured fundraiser, takes place Friday evening, Feb. 28. This ticketed event gives attendees a chance to meet and mingle with the authors as part of an unforgettable dining experience at the Burroughs Home and Gardens. The evening also includes a silent auction with proceeds supporting the festival and giving guests the chance to snag spring training baseball game tickets, weekend getaway hotel packages and more. Tickets are available on the festival website, readfest.org.
This year’s impressive line-up brings in festival favorite Debbie Macomber and other stellar adult authors like Reed Farrel Coleman and Lisa Genova. Featured youth authors include Megan McDonald, creator of the wildly popular “Judy Moody” and “Stink” series, along with Molly Idle and Renée Ahdieh. From mystery and suspense to crime thrillers, fiction, nonfiction, romance, fantasy, humor and memoirs, there will be something for every reader.
The full list of scheduled authors, list of related festival events, directions and more is available on the latest version of the festival’s mobile app “SWFL Reads,” the festival website or by calling 239-479-4636. Attendees also can sign up for the new festival e-newsletter on the website to receive monthly updates.
The Southwest Florida Reading Festival is free and community-supported through generous donations, sponsorships and grants. To help ensure the continuation of this amazing, annual event visit the festival website to make a secure online donation. Funding is provided in part through a Florida Humanities Book Festival Grant with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities and in partnership with Lee County Library System.
