When is the 2022 Virginia Festival of the Book?
The official Festival happens between March 16 and March 20. In that timeframe, we will host 39 in-person events and 20 virtual events.
CLICK HERE to download a PDF of the Official Festival Guide, which you can also pick up at venues around Charlottesville and Albemarle County during the week of the Festival.
In addition to these events, there are pre-Festival events that include the Virginia Writing and Publishing series and K-12 school events that have been taking place since mid-February. These events can now be viewed on demand at VaBook.org/watch
Why is the 2022 Festival called “hybrid”?
This year’s Virginia Festival of the Book is hybrid because you can participate either in person or online. Online events are live, but they are also recorded and can be viewed on demand.
Some of the in-person events will also be livestreamed and recorded. The on-demand videos of all livestreamed events will also be available for on-demand viewing.
All on-demand event recordings can be accessed at VaBook.org/watch.
How do I access virtual events?
There are two ways to attend live virtual events–on Zoom or through Facebook. To participate on Zoom, register in advance using the link on the individual event page. You can watch on Facebook.com/VaBookFest without preregistration or a Facebook login.
You may also opt to watch the recorded event on VaBook.org/watch afterwards.
Explore the full schedule of virtual events, including livestreams: https://www.vabook.org/by-tag/virtual-programming/
Where will the in-person events take place?
In-person events are scheduled to take place at thirteen different locations throughout Charlottesville and Albemarle County. For the full list of event venues, go to https://www.vabook.org/venues/
You can also pick up a regional map of Charlottesville with transportation information at the Festival Information Desk located in the lobby of the Omni Hotel.
Explore the full schedule of in-person events: https://www.vabook.org/by-tag/in-person/
Will in-person events also be livestreamed?
Some in-person events will be livestreamed (with on-demand videos posted later as well)so that you can watch from home and/or enjoy the video later. To see if any specific event will be livestreamed, check the event page for details. On-demand videos for all livestreamed events will be available on VaBook.org/watch afterwards.
Is the festival free?
Yes! Every virtual event is free to attend, and so are all but one of the in-person events.
To attend these in-person events, simply make plans to show up at the specified venue at the scheduled time. You don’t need tickets or any kind of pre-registration. Additionally, be sure to check the event page on VaBook.org for details about venue-specific COVID-19 protocols. Due to COVID-19 precautions, capacity is limited, so early arrival is encouraged.
The only exception is our headlining in-person event, Southern Landscapes: Real and Imagined, which takes place on Saturday night. Tickets cost $25 ($12 for students).
What COVID-19 precautions will be in place for in-person events?
Different venues have different COVID-19 requirements, but we recommend everyone wear a mask at all indoor events regardless of vaccination. Many of our venues require proof of vaccination and valid photo id. We strongly encourage you to make sure you’re fully prepared by checking the COVID-19 protocols for the venue in advance by clicking the link on the event page.
Where can I buy the books?
You can buy featured books by following the link provided on each event page. You can also purchase featured books at each in-person event.
For virtual events, links to purchase featured books are provided on the registration pages, during the Zoom and Facebook events, and in the follow-up email we send to registered attendees after the event.
Of course, the links to purchase these books are also on the event page for virtual and on-demand events too.
As always, our book sales are managed by various Virginia booksellers, and we hope you’ll buy your festival books through the provided links so that we can all continue to support the literary community of Virginia.
Will I be able to get author signatures?
Yes! Author signings will follow each in-person discussion.
