By 1812Blockhouse, 1812AI
As in years past, 1812Blockhouse is sharing regular updates over the summer months in terms of events and attractions located within an easy driving distance of Richland County.
We always preface these ideas by reminding our readers that Richland County is home to a number of top notch places to visit. We highly recommend a visit to the website of Destination Mansfield – Richland County to discover what is in your own backyard.
Later this month you can travel about 60 miles to experience a grand celebration of books and authors taking place in the heart of Columbus.
This summer, the Columbus Book Festival is set to make a splash in the city’s literary scene, as part of the Columbus Metropolitan Library’s 150th anniversary celebration. This two-day event, taking place July 15-16, will transform downtown’s historic Main Library and the picturesque Topiary Park into a vibrant hub for book lovers 📖.
The festival is hosted by the Columbus Metropolitan Library Foundation and presented by Battelle. Over these two days, the festival will feature more than 200 national and local authors, dozens of exhibitors, and a lineup of entertainment that’ll have you wishing for more 🎭.
🗓️ Festival Schedule
- Saturday, July 15: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
- Sunday, July 16: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
🎤 Talks and Discussions
Inside the Main Library, more than 135 popular authors will take the stage, offering insights into their latest works. These lively panel discussions, spread across the library’s seven meeting rooms, cover a range of genres, promising something for every reader 👥.
📚 Books and More Books
The festival is also an excellent opportunity to support local authors and businesses. You can shop for the featured authors’ new books at the Official Festival Bookstore, and snag great deals on used books at the Big Book Sale tent 🛍️.
🌳 Outdoor Fun at Topiary Park
For those who prefer the great outdoors, head to Kaufman Plaza and Topiary Park for a mix of entertainment, food vendors, and book sales. Here, you can meet and greet over 70 independent authors at Indie Author Alley, and visit the big tent to discover 90+ indie authors from small presses and with self-published works 🌿.
🚗 Getting There
The Columbus Book Festival offers plenty of parking options. Multiple surface lots in the Discovery District will be available for festival parking over the weekend. You can view the parking map here 🗺️. Additionally, the Main Library has a 5-level attached parking garage, which will provide free event parking. For those opting for public transport, COTA bus service and CoGo Bike Share bicycles are readily available throughout downtown 🚌.
Mark your calendars and get ready to immerse yourself in the literary world at the Columbus Book Festival! 🎈
Photo: Creative Commons License
