B
ook lovers and literary aficionados take note: The 2025 West Virginia Book Festival returns this weekend, bringing readers and writers to the Kanawha Valley for a series of free literary events.
All activities are open to the public.
On Thursday, Oct. 23, Pulitzer Prize winning novelist Viet Thanh Nguyen will be the featured speaker at the 2025 McCreight Lecture in the Humanities, a prelude event to the October 25th Book Festival. Nguyen's talk begins at 7:30 p.m. at the Capitol Theater in Downtown Charleston.
Saturday’s one-day literary festival — one of West Virginia's largest — will be held at the Charleston Coliseum and Convention Center. Several bestselling authors, including Jayne Anne Phillips, Neal Shusterman, Jeff Shaara, and Rajia Hassib, will offer presentations and book signings. The day will also feature workshops and programs for readers and writers of all ages, including sessions with authors Julie Hensley, Kendy Pearson, Barry Beck, Marc Harshman, Anna Smucker and Kristina Gaddy.
Photo: Kanawha County Public Library
The Festival Marketplace, the Used Book Sale and the Children’s Word Play areas will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Convention Center’s Grand Hall.
The Word Play area features interactive activities designed for children and their caregivers. The Kanawha County Public Library and local community partners will host hands-on activities throughout the day.
The Word Play schedule includes:
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9–9:30 a.m. – Dr. Miranda Montoya presents "Petunia Moves Again," an interactive reading that brings her children’s book to life.
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10–11 a.m. – Bright Star Touring Theatre performs "A Tell-Tale Tale: The Stories and Poems of Edgar Allan Poe," suitable for grades 3 and up.
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11:15 a.m. – Children’s Storybook Costume Parade with the Children’s Theatre of Charleston and Kelly’s Dance Studio. Kids are encouraged to dress as their favorite storybook characters and parade around the Grand Hall.
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Noon – West Virginia authors Marc Harshman and Anna Smucker share their award-winning children’s books.
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1:30–2:30 p.m. – Dr. Barry Beck leads “Barry’s ‘Mathemagical’ Journey: Exploring Place Value,” an interactive workshop connecting math and imagination.
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2:30–3:30 p.m. – West Virginia Public Broadcasting presents “WVPB’s Writers Workshop for Kids,” where student authors read their stories and teach writing fundamentals for children in grades K-5.
Fun Fitness Kids Club will also host an afternoon of games, creativity and play for families from noon to 5 p.m.
The West Virginia Book Festival is presented by the Kanawha County Public Library, the Library Foundation of Kanawha County, the West Virginia Humanities Council, the Charleston Gazette-Mail and several community partners.
More information, including a full schedule of events, is available at wvbookfestival.org.
