Book Festivals in the United States of America
In almost all countries across the world, annual book festivals are organized that attract a cosmopolite crowd of people of all ages. These national events that were initially meant to be a platform for authors, readers, booksellers, editors and publishers to meet and promote their books and services have not taken a new dimension. Book festivals nowadays are full-fledged partners in the promotion of literacy and book reading. They play a core role in the fight against low literacy levels and illiteracy amongst children and adults in the world.
The United States of America is no exception to the rule. In almost all States, each year book festivals are organized that attract millions of people. These festivals are subject to high commercialization and evolved from the traditional old-fashioned fairs to highly animated and lively events proposing a wide-ranging of activities and animations for a heterogeneous public. These national book festivals are now booming socio-cultural events that each year welcome clusters of Americans.
The 2011 Alabama Book Festival
The Alabama Centre for book organized the sixth edition of the festival in line with the tradition. The city hosted some 112 national and regional participants including authors, musicians, exhibitors, poets and illustrators. The President Barack Obama and the first lady honored the event and chaired the event. The fair was held at the National Mall and compared to the previous editions, this time, more authors were invited and more activities were organized. Hence, the 2011 Alabama Book Festival was reported to have been an unprecedented event.
These three book festivals above-mentioned illustrate the social and cultural dimensions of book festivals and how they vary from one socio-cultural context to the other. Although the primary objectives of the book festival do not change, which is to promote the culture of reading and the cultural of books, each state personalised the festival in line with its social and cultural specificities. Hence, these festivals have been redefined and are now rather cultural events. But is maybe owing to this redefinition that the long tradition book festivals is being perpetuated and are still attracting masses of people each year.
Visit: www.alabamabookfestival.org
The Decatur Book Festival – Georgia, North Carolina
The Decatur Book Festival is one of the largest independent book festivals in the country.
The Fourth Annual Atlanta Journal-Constitution Decatur Book Festival was a multi-day book fair that was organized from the 8th to the 6th September 2009, local Labor Day weekend. The first edition was launched in 2006 and since then each year the festival has been organized with the help of various sponsors. It was an event that brought together some 200 writers including Pulitzer Prize winning authors and non-fiction and fiction bestsellers. It was a festive event that featured literature discussions, poetry reading, live music, cooking demonstrations and other activities for publics of all ages.
Visit: www.decaturbookfestival.com
The 2012 Hawaii Book and Music Festival
When people talk of the United States of America, they should not forget Hawaii Island chain which is also a U.S State. The peculiarity of this fair is that it is also a music festival. The association of the world of book and the world of music is understandable given that they have always been interconnected. Besides, given the historical development of this island chain, it has developed a rich oral tradition with music being one form of ‘orality’. Hence, Hawaiian culture incorporates both written and oral cultures with books and music being the two most popular mediums.
The seventh annual Hawaii Book and Music Festival was a two day event that was organized on from the 5th to the 6th May 2012 and the theme of this edition was ‘a celebration of story and song’. Some 500 presenters participated in the festival and some 150 events were organized.
Visit: www.hawaiibookandmusicfestival.org
The 2011 Latino Book and Family Festival – Illinois, Chicago
The first festival was launched in 1997 and each year the Los Angeles committee has been perpetuating the tradition with the organization of the 2 011 edition on the weekend of 8th to 9th October. The festival was held during the Hispanic heritage month and featured Latino authors, singers, folkloric dances and artists. The event aimed at the promotion of the Hispanic cultural and intangible heritage and hence this festival fell within the realm of the heritage transmission and survival.
These three book festivals above-mentioned illustrate the social and cultural dimensions of book festivals and how they vary from one socio-cultural context to the other. Although the primary objectives of the book festival do not change, which is to promote the culture of reading and the cultural of books, each state personalised the festival in line with its social and cultural specificities. Hence, these festivals have been redefined and are now rather cultural events. But is maybe owing to this redefinition that the long tradition book festivals is being perpetuated and are still attracting masses of people each year.
Visit: www.lbff.us