Past Book Fests

Since the first Book Fest in 2016, a theme or statement has been chosen to help guide the direction of the next Book Fest! Explore past festivals, stream events from previous Book Fests, and learn more about their featured authors below.

One Community, Many Stories

Fort Collins Book Festival, 2024

This festival highlighted the diversity of stories and experiences across Northern Colorado and the West with the tagline, “One Community, May Stories.” The festival was headlined by authors Oscar Hokeah (Calling for a Blanket Dance) and Uma Krishnaswami (Two at the Top). Attendees enjoyed author talks, writing workshops, kid and teen activities, readings, books signings, panel discussions, and other creative activities. Other authors included Malia Maunakea (Lei and the Fire Goddess), Deborah Taffa Jackson (Whiskey Tender), Ramona Emerson (Shutter), David Heska Wanbli Weiden (Winter Counts), and many more.

For the Love of Reading

Fort Collins Book Festival, 2023

Many of us can point to a book or author that made a significant impact in our lives – how we think, how we navigate the world, the stories we love. It starts with one special book. 2023’s book festival took place over the entire month of February and featured a variety of author talks, writing workshops, panel discussions, a Human Library session, and more. Featured authors included Will Betke-Brunswick (A Pros and Cons List for Strong Feelings), Angela Sylvaine (Wild), Susan J. Tweit (Bless the Birds), Tara Dairman, and more. Stream virtual sessions from 2023 below or visit Poudre Libraries YouTube.

Up, Up, & Out

Fort Collins Book Festival, 2021

The 2021 Fort Collins Book Festival was a mix of in-person and livestream sessions, happening over a long weekend in October. The festival theme, Up, Up, & Out, spoke to our collective desire (after a year of the pandemic) to get up from our couches, meet up with friends and family, and get back out into the world. The festival was headlined by author Kali Fajardo-Anstine (Sabrina & Corina) and included other authors like Steven Graham Jones (The Only Good Indians), Alex Elle (After the Rain), Fort Collins Poet Laureate 2020-2022, poet Autumn Bernhardt, and more.

Special thanks to Doug Usher, founder and Creative Director of VIA , for his work on the 2021 virtual festival. Find select 2021 sessions below and explore more at Poudre Libraries YouTube.

Fifth Annual Virtual Festival

Fort Collins Book Festival, 2020

The 2020 Fort Collins Book Festival was originally scheduled over two weekends in October: October 9-11 and October 16-18. Due to the health and safety concerns with the pandemic (COVID-19), the book festival went digital, offering an exciting series of professionally-produced and virtual one-hour, interactive book talks, author interviews, readings, demos, and more. The festival showcased the themes from our five-year history: Craft Brewing, Music, Science/Technology, Food, and Outdoors. Headliners and featured authors included music legend Judy Collins (Sweet Judy Blue Eyes: My Life in Music); journalist Fred Pearce (When the Rivers Run Dry); Jennifer Jewel, (Cultivating Place); and author/photographer John Fielder (Colorado’s Highest: The History of Naming the 14,000-Foot Peaks). Stream select sessions below and view others on-demand via Poudre Libraries YouTube.

Food for Thought

Fort Collins Book Festival, 2019

The 2019 book festival showcased unique literary talent and also took on important social and cultural topics around food. With more than 40 authors and presenters, Food for Thought was literary feast for the foodie in all of us, whether you follow the latest culinary zeitgeists, are curious about the current state of our food systems, or love to discover new poets and writers.

Headliners and featured authors included James Beard-award winning chef Sean Sherman (The Sioux Chef’s Indigenous Kitchen); acclaimed writer Rick Bass (A Traveling Feast: On the Road and at Table with My Heroes); and other notable chefs and authors including Ken Albala (Noodle Soup: Recipes, Techniques, Obsession), Stephanie Anderson (One Size Fits None: A Farm Girl’s Search for the Promise of Regenerative Agriculture), and Octavio Quintanilla (If I Go Missing).

The Big Think

Fort Collins Book Festival, 2018

Inspired by a broader national conversation around science and technology, this festival highlighted living in a time of an unprecedented expansion of scientific advancement. Presentations covered a variety of topics from exploring and living on other planets to gravitational waves to human ingenuity and invention. Headliners and featured authors included internationally-known sci-fi author Andy Weir (The Martian and Artemis); Dr. Sheila Rowan, experimental physicist and Chief Scientific Advisor to the Scottish Government; former Colorado governor Bill Ritter, Jr. (Powering Forward – What Everyone Should Know About America’s Energy Revolution); astrophysicist Dr. Adam Becker (What is Real? The Unfinished Quest for the Meaning of Quantum Physics); and many more.

Writings & Riffs

Fort Collins Book Festival, 2017

This festival celebrated the important roles reading, writing, and music play in our lives and our community. Nearly 2,000 festival-goers attended panel discussions, writing workshops, author readings, book signings, and other exciting sessions throughout the day and engaged with 50 fantastic writers, performers, musicians, and presenters. Headliners and featured authors included Sonic Youth co-founder and author Kim Gordon; legendary folksinger and author of Liner Notes, Loudon Wainwright III; Steve Knopper, Rolling Stone contributing editor, author of MJ: The Genius of Michael Jackson; and many more.

Brewin' Up Books

Innagural Fort Collins Book Festival, 2016

In 2016, Fort Collins Book Fest was a brand new event designed to bring awareness to local libraries, books, and the literary arts throughout Fort Collins. The 2016 theme Brewin’ Up Books was chosen as a nod to the area’s expansive and passionate craft brewing scene and featured 50 speakers and authors in more than 40 sessions.

Featured presenters at the 2016 festival included Governor John Hickenlooper (The Opposite of Woe: My Life in Beer and Politics), nationally-acclaimed poet Katrina Roberts (Underdog), New Belgium Brewing brew master Peter Bouckaert (Wood & Beer: A Brewer’s Guide), and internationally-recognized beer expert Horst Dornbusch (Prost!: The Story of German Beer).