NEW ORLEANS – First Lady Cheryl Landrieu and Barnes & Noble will present the 5th Annual New Orleans Book Festival on Friday, Nov. 14, and Saturday, Nov. 15, that will include a free giveaway of more than 6,000 books and celebrity author readings and signings.
“I strongly believe in literacy and the power of education and in the powerful effects that learning can have in bringing people together,” Landrieu said. “This event gives people from all backgrounds the opportunity to get to know one another through the love of books and learning.”
First Lady Landrieu, and husband Mayor Mitch Landrieu, will kick off the free, all ages 2-day festival tonight with “A Night of Music Under the Stars,” featuring literature-inspired music by the Greater New Orleans Youth Orchestras, from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., at the Latter Branch Library, located at 5120 St. Charles Ave. Participants are encouraged to bring blankets and picnic baskets.
“A Day of Books & Wonder” takes place on Saturday, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., at the Big Lake at New Orleans City Park. Opening remarks start at 10:45 a.m.
Organizers say the Saturday festival will offer the book giveaway and readings and book signings from nearly 80 authors on 6 stages. They say there will be unique opportunities for adults and children to interact with exceptional writers and storytellers, and to enjoy an inspiring variety of book-related activities, exhibitions, live music, food, fun activities and a scavenger hunt.
Some of the authors scheduled to give readings throughout the day include James Carville, Mary Matalin, Actor/Author Steve Guttenberg, Actor/ Author Bryan Batt, Ian McNulty, Poppy Tooker, Peter Yarrow (from music group Peter, Paul and Mary), Bonnie Warren, Trombone Shorty, Tom Piazza, Jilly Lagasse and Jessie Lagasse Swanson, John Kemp, Laura Kelly and several New Orleans Saints and Pelicans sports team members.
Special guests include participants costumed as The Cat in the Hat, the Very Hungry Caterpillar, Curious George, Madeline, Wild Thing and Little Critter.
Free bus transportation on Saturday will be provided every hour from 12 New Orleans Public Library locations across the city including: Algiers Regional Library at 3414 Holiday Dr.; Cita Dennis Hubbell Library at 725 Pelican Ave.; Martin Luther King Library at 1611 Caffin Ave.; Alvar Library 913 Alvar St.; East New Orleans Regional Library at 5641 Read Blvd.; Norman Mayer Library at 3401 Gentilly Blvd.; Robert E. Smith Library at 6341 Canal Blvd.; Mid-City Library at 3700 Orleans Ave.; Nix Library at 1401 S. Carrollton Ave.; Rosa F. Keller Library & Community Center at 4300 South Broad St.; Children’s Resource Library at 913 Napoleon Ave.; and Latter Branch Public Library at 5120 St. Charles Ave.
