Announcing the First Annual McDowell Literary Festival, Saturday, April 25th!
It seems like a crazy time to be making this announcement — with ICE on the roads and causing chaos across our country—but we are still excited to announce that THREE MONTHS FROM TODAY we will be having the First Annual McDowell Literary Festival!
Here’s the official announcement:
On Saturday, April 25, readers across McDowell County are invited to take part in the inaugural McDowell LiteraryFestival, a new county-wide literary festival happening on the annual Independent Bookstore Day. The festival is a first-of-its-kind collaboration among three independent bookstores, all working together to celebrate books, storytelling, and the role local bookstores play in community life.
Throughout the day, each participating bookstore will host special Independent Bookstore Day events and sales. In addition, there will be a local author book fair taking place (9am-5pm) in the Parish Hall at St. John’s Episcopal Church (339 S. Main St., Marion), which will include author talks and book signings from local/regional authors.
Leading up to the event, people will be encouraged to visit the participating bookstores to pick up a McDowell LiteraryFestival “passport” and get it signed/stamped at each location. Visiting all three stores and filling out your passport before April 25 will qualify you for entering to win a grand prize gift basket drawing.
“This festival grew out of conversations between local booksellers who all believe that independent bookstores are more than retail spaces,” said Stephen Knight, co-owner of Bigfoot Books & Brews in downtown Marion. “They’re gathering places. They’re creative spaces. And they’re deeply connected to the communities they serve. This felt like a natural way to celebrate that—together.”
Independent Bookstore Day is a nationwide celebration of locally owned bookstores, held annually on the last Saturday in April. By aligning the new festival with the day, organizers hope to spotlight both regional literary talent and the independent businesses that support them year-round.
Participating bookstores include:
Bigfoot Books & Brews — Marion, NC
B Side Bakery & Books — Old Fort, NC
Little Switzerland Books & Beans — Little Switzerland, NC
Events are free and open to the public. A full schedule of authors, times, and locations will be updated regularly at MLitFest.com.
Organizers encourage attendees to make a day of it—visit all bookstores, meet local authors, shop small, and enjoy the shared experience of a county-wide celebration rooted in books and community.
For more information, contact Stephen Knight, 828-222-0744 / shop@bigfootbooksnc.com.
Watch for more about the McDowell Literary Festival on social media soon, and we’ll announce as soon as we have “passport” books available for you to pick up at all three bookstore locations!
Please plan now to celebrate with us in McDowell County on Saturday, April 25!!!