The Savannah Book Festival celebrates the written word and its role in improving the human experience.
Since the first Savannah Book Festival in 2008, SBF has consistently presented nationally-recognized national, regional and local authors to thousands of book-loving attendees. Growing from the first venue of Trinity United Methodist Church, Festival Saturday now features over 40 authors appearing at seven venues around three historic squares in beautiful downtown Savannah. This annual event is free and open to the public, with a mission to promote reading, writing and civil conversation.
Included in the almost 400 authors appearing over the last decade are James Patterson, Stephen King, Diana Gabaldon, George Saunders, Anne Rice, Colson Whitehead, Janet Evanovich, Jodi Picoult and Walter Isaacson. Attendees come from all over the US to experience the curiosity and conversation of SBF. This year’s line up includes a wide variety of genres and topics.
Thursday, February 16th:
Opening Address: Jack Carr at 6:30 p.m. at Lucas Theatre for the Arts. Headliner events are ticketed at a nominal cost.
Friday, February 17th:
Keynote Address: Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child at 6 p.m. at Lucas Theatre for the Arts. Headliner events are ticketed at a nominal cost.
Festival Saturday, February 18th:
Following SBF tradition, individual author presentations will take place on Festival Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in venues around downtown Savannah’s Telfair Square, Wright Square and Chippewa Square. These presentations are free and open to the public. You can find the line-up of presenting authors by visiting the Meet the Authors web page. Download the SCHEDULE HERE.
Book Sales & Signing:
- Your Purchase Supports the Festival: When you purchase books through the Savannah Book Festival, 20% of all sales come back to the Festival, which helps to keep Festival Saturday free and open to the public. It is also the only way to have your books signed at Festival events.
- Where to Purchase Festival Books: Books by all presenting SBF authors will be available for purchase at our Book Sales Tent in Telfair Square beginning at noon on Festival Friday and throughout the day on Festival Saturday. Books by headlining authors will also be available at their venues prior to and following the author presentations. Literati members and sponsors are eligible for a 10% discount on books purchased during Festival weekend. Please show your membership card to a book sales cashier.
- Book Signings: SBF authors will sign books purchased at the Festival and accompanied by an SBF author signing card (provided at the time of purchase) following their presentations. Festival Saturday authors will sign books in the Author Signing Tent in Telfair Square directly following their presentation. Authors are unable to sign books purchased elsewhere.
Festival Food
Savannah is a food-lovers town! To spice up our Festival Saturday, the Savannah Book Festival partners with a variety of establishment to provide food and drinks to attendees. Perhaps most notable are the array of aroma-filled food trucks parked around Telfair Square during SBF every year. While no food or drink is allowed in the Jepson or church venues, concessions are available at The Savannah Theatre.
Food trucks participating in the 2023 Festival:
- All About That Bean
- Strange Bird
- Dark Shark Taco Attack
- Molly MacPherson’s
- C Alexanders
- Mobster Lobster
Sunday, February 19th:
Closing Address: David Maraniss at 2 p.m. at Lucas Theatre for the Arts. Headliner events are ticketed at a nominal cost.
