Grab your friends and show off your book smarts at this special pre-Book-Fest event! Groups of up to 6 are invited to compete in book trivia for gift cards and other bookish prizes. From today's most popular reads to the classics, it's all on the table!
Howl of the Hearts Poetry Competition celebrates the creativity of our Northern Colorado poets community! Teens (grades 6-12) or Adults (ages 18-up) are welcome to submit a poem. Make sure to read the competition rules before submitting! Judging will take place between February 24 - March 24, 2025. The Howl of the Hearts Poetry Contest Reading will […]
Help us kick off the Fort Collins Book Fest at this special after-hours event for all ages! Drink hot cocoa, play word games, snag some swag, and participate in book giveaways as we celebrate all things literary. There will be a special performance by The Story Bakers from 6:45 to 7:15 pm! Registration required. The […]
We know there is no one "Immigrant Experience." In fact, each family and individual has their own and, unless your family is indigenous to the United States, your family does too. However, there are many shared themes of opportunity, loneliness, hope, loss, etc. Our Poudre Libraries' ESL Mentoring community, representing immigrants from many countries and […]
Do you use social media to find your next read? Authors Kate Shelton and Vanessa Rasanen discuss how they engage with social media to connect with their readers, create community, and hype their books. Join this panel to hear about their new books and how they plan to share them with their followers!
Romantasy authors Amalie Howard (The Starlight Heir) and Vanessa Rasanen (Until the Stars Fall) spin epic romances featuring swoon-worthy princes from magical lands. Hear how the authors combine elements of fantasy and romance to create these titillating and spellbinding narratives.
Let’s turn the horror genre on its head! Stephen Graham Jones (I Was a Teenage Slasher) writes his story from the perspective of the killer, Devon A. Mihesuah (The Bone Picker) retells Native stories and histories with a spine tingling twist, and Lindsay King-Miller (The Z Word) attempts to overcome a breakup and save Pride […]
How do we write our locality? How do we creatively document the past and present of the land that supports us? Join poet, essayist, and CSU Professor, Sasha Steensen, for an exploration of the intersection between creative practice and documentary writing. Together we will explore materials related to regional history and geography, and we will […]
Play Bingo and celebrate your love of books at this special Book Fest Bingo night, hosted at Maxline Brewing! Prizes include gift cards and other book swag from The Crowded Bookshelf. Beverages are available to purchase, but purchase is not required to participate.
Get ready to unleash your creativity in this exciting, hands-on class where we'll dive into the world of accordion-fold books! These fun, foldable wonders are perfect for showcasing your artwork, journaling adventures, or telling a story in a way that's both interactive and eye-catching. No experience needed—just bring your imagination and a desire to get […]
Join poet and Spanish Interpreter Ally Eden for a 90-minute Bilingual poetry workshop that invites you to write from your heart using inquiry, adoration, and distillation. We’ll engage in writing exercises that help us move beyond tropes of love and/or self-love and extract only the essential. Before we close, each poet will have the opportunity […]
(VIRTUAL) Join Front Range Community College virtually for a free online screening of the not-yet-released PBS Indie Lens documentary, "Free for All: The Public Library," which examines how public libraries shaped the country and continue to be a sanctuary for Americans everywhere. Register via the Library's online calendar and enjoy the film from the comfort […]
Are you a book lover looking to build connections with fellow readers in a fun and relaxed setting? Join us for an evening where books, conversation, and new connections come together! Register via the Library's online calendar to participate. How it Works Bring Your Favorite Book: Choose a book that you absolutely love, whether it's […]
The essay—the most flexible, shapeshifting genre—has much to offer writers. This workshop led by National Book Award finalist Deborah Jackson Taffa is designed to explore the dynamic possibilities of creative nonfiction. How do we weave public histories into individual stories? What is the impact of emotional truth versus factual truth? How do we distinguish memoir […]
Craft, revision, publication, education, and beyond — writers, bring all of your burning questions! This panel, made up of faculty, alumni, and leadership from Western Colorado University's MFA program in Creative Writing, seeks to open the floor to writers of all levels to ask whatever's on your mind, with a focus on poetry and essay-writing. […]
Hear how three authors investigate and share the untold stories of marginalized voices through unique forms of storytelling. Through his memoir, Tim Z. Hernandez (They Call You Back) investigates the plane crash that killed 28 Mexicans in Los Gatos Canyon. In an epic poem, Teow Lim Goh (Bitter Creek) explores the buried history of Chinese […]
Award-winning author Deborah Jackson Taffa headlines this year’s Fort Collins Book Fest: Open Pages Open Minds. Taffa's memoir, Whiskey Tender, was a finalist for the National Book Award and was named to best lists at Oprah Daily, The Washington Post, Elle, and Esquire Magazines. Whiskey Tender traces how a mixed tribe native girl—born on the […]
In this panel, authors Riley Odell (Divergent Realms: Science Fiction and Fantasy Stories About Neurodivergence) and Kendra Merritt (Unmasked) share their unique experiences of writing from a neurodivergent perspective. While discussing their novels, they will explore how they incorporate their own neurodivergent experiences into their work, as well as how these identities shape their storytelling, […]
Meet author Christine Day and participate in crafts and activities that go along with her latest book, We Still Belong! Hear from the author, ask questions, and get creative. Book sales and signing to follow. Don’t miss out on an afternoon full of storytelling and fun! Designed for kids in grades 3-5 and their families. […]
Many people want to write a book, but it can seem like a daunting task. Add in being Neurodivergent, and suddenly the idea of writing anything can feel nearly impossible. How can you write a book when you have executive functioning issues, perfectionism, anxiety, and other challenges? In this workshop, Autistic ADHD author and advocate, […]
Fort Collins children's author Lindsey Pointer leads participants through an interactive read-aloud of her book Wally and Freya followed by coloring and puppet play. This engaging workshop explores themes from the story: empathy and inclusion. The book provides an age-appropriate way to talk about empathy, offers strategies to help repair harm and highlights the impact […]
Celebrate the conclusion of Fort Collins Book Fest 2025 with craft beers, fun activities, and an adult storytime that’s sure to make you laugh, cringe, and maybe even blush. Expect wild tales and a little too much honesty—just the right vibe to wrap up an unforgettable festival. It’s the perfect blend of books, booze, and […]
