Fifth Annual Sunshine State Book Festival

Gainesville, Florida

January 26-27, 2024

Bringing Readers and Writers Together

FREE ADMISSION

Attendees enjoyed a day of browsing—and met 200 local and regional authors. It was an opportunity to meet outstanding authors who write in many genres.

Authors from around Florida and the nation gathered at the Hilton Conference Center on January 27th, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., to sell books and talk about their work.

Festivities included guest speakers, giveaways, storytelling, and more.

Find festival photos here

Supporting Florida Literacy

A celebration of learning and literacy for all ages! Fun and educational!

  • Hourly drawings to win an autographed book
  • Informal opening-night reception Friday, January 26 from 7 to 9 p.m.
  • Readers, sponsors, and interested members of the public—come mingle with the authors 
  • Scholarships for Essay Contest Winners

Festival Schedule

Friday

7:00 – 9:00 p.m Author’s Reception

Authors met and mingled with interested members of the public.

Saturday

10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Sunshine State Book Festival Main Event

Opportunity to meet and engage with authors, purchase books, and have them signed.

10:00 a.m. Student Essay Contest Scholarship Awards

11:00 a.m. Panel Discussion “Freedom to Read”

Panelists included Mary Bahr, Joe Courter, Carolyn Edwards, Judith Weaver, and moderator John Reiskind.

12:00 – 4:00 p.m. Storytelling by Children’s Book Authors

1:00 p.m. Keynote address by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jack E. Davis

3:00 p.m. Literary Heritage Program “A Conversation with Frederick Douglass and Captain John Brown.” 

The 40-minute presentation features actor and Alachua County Poet Laureate, E. Stanley Richardson, award-winning actor, director and playwright Timothy “Shamrock” McShane and Television host and author Pamela Marshall-Koons.

Thank You to Our Sponsors

#sunshinestatebookfestival

The Sunshine State Book Festival is funded in part by Visit Gainesville, Alachua County, FL. This program/event is funded in part by a grant from the City of Gainesville, Parks, Recreation and Cultural Affairs Department. Additional funding for this program was provided through a grant from the Florida Humanities with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this website do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services: DTN: 3642940 License #: CH66096 A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE WITHIN THE STATE. 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352) www.floridaconsumerhelp.com. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE.

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