The Texas Book Festival

How To Attend

The Texas Book Festival is FREE and OPEN TO THE PUBLIC and takes place in Austin, Texas at the State Capitol and surrounding grounds. We hope you will join us on October 27 & 28 for this exciting literary event.

The Festival is a non-profit organization, and welcomes your contributions to provide this popular annual event. Donate online or at the Merchandise Tent at the Festival. We are grateful for your support of literature, libraries and literacy in Texas!

For a $100 tax-deductible donation you can be a Texas Book Festival member and receive FAST PASS privileges. A TBF membership card allows “fast-pass” access to certain sessions and signings.

SESSIONS

Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. No one will be admitted to a full session unless another attendee leaves that session. Venues will be cleared between sessions.

HOUSE RULES

The Book Festival’s presence in the Capitol is a privilege and attendees are asked to respect the House Rules. No food or drinks are allowed in the Capitol. Please observe the guidelines posted at the entrance to all Capitol venues.

PARKING

The following garages and lots are free to the public on Saturday, October 27 and Sunday, October 28.

Granger Parking Garage, 12th Street & Guadalupe (west of Capitol)
Capitol Visitor Garage, 12th Street & Trinity
State Lots 8 and 11, W. 15th Street & Colorado
State Garage A, E. 14th Street & San Jacinto
State Garage F, E. 13th Street & San Jacinto
State Lot 15, 9th Street & Colorado

PARKING MAP

MAP of the Festival grounds

MAPS of the Capitol Interior

INFORMATION BOOTHS

General information will be available at the Information Booth located at 12th and Colorado Streets. Services include First Aid, lost & found, and directional assistance.

BOOKSIGNINGS

Authors will sign books 15 minutes after the end of their session. The Book Signing Tent is located at the intersection of Congress and 10th Streets. The Children’s Book Signing Tent is located at the intersection of Colorado & 13th Streets.

Proceeds from book sales during the Festival weekend allow us to keep the weekend FREE to the public. Books must be purchased from the Barnes & Noble Book Sales tents at the Festival in order to be signed. The Texas Book Festival respectfully asks visitors to not bring books from outside the Festival to be signed. A receipt from the Barnes & Noble Book Sales Tent must be presented in the Book Signing tents. Thank you for your support and understanding.

Dealers are not allowed to bring books into the Book Signing tents. Dealers with rolling carts and/or wagons are not allowed on the Festival grounds.

DISABILITY SERVICES

If you require special accommodations, please contact the Texas Book Festival prior to your visit at (512) 477-4055.

Sign Language Interpreters will be available on a limited basis. If you desire an Interpreter, go to the Sign Language Interpreter Tent located at the intersection of Colorado and 12th streets in the Capitol Driveway thirty minutes before your requested session to check for availability.

CONCESSIONS

Food and beverages will be available on 11th Street and Congress Avenue at various local food vendor booths, as well as on Congress Avenue between 8th and 10th Streets. The Capitol Grill in the Capitol Extension (Level E1) will also be open for lunch and snacks.

EXHIBITORS

Be sure to visit the Festival’s exhibitors in the tents along Colorado Street, just west of the Capitol Building.

ADDITIONAL VENUES

The Book Festival holds additional presentations at the following venues (see schedule for details):

First United Methodist Church Sanctuary
1201 Lavaca Street (enter from Lavaca St.)
Family Life Center (of First United Methodist Church)
1300 Lavaca Street
Paramount Theatre (713 Congress Ave.)
Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar (1120 S. Lamar Blvd.)
Alamo Drafthouse Ritz (320 E. 6th St.)

Lit Crawl Venues (Lit Crawl takes place on Saturday night, Oct. 27th):
TBD