Gaithersburg festival to showcase love of reading
The Gaithersburg Book Festival will be returning this May, bringing together readers and book lovers.
Founded in 2010, the Festival aims to celebrate the written word and be recognized as one of the top literary events in the country. Dozens of writers will appear for panels and book signing, including bestselling children’s author Dave Barry, mystery writer Jeffrey Deaver, historian David Hajdu, and award-winning science fiction scribe John Scalzi. Liza Achilles and Sarah Adler will serve as moderators for panels on poetry and fiction respectively. Visiting writers will also be involved in free writing workshops, with full details to be released in the lead-up to the event.
The GBF will also be hosting a poetry contest for high school students in the DMV season, with over 100 entries submitted on the theme of “civic duty.” Readers can vote for their favorite online, with the awards presented during the festival.
For younger book lovers, there will be a Children’s Village area with free writing and illustrating workshops as well as appearances from kids’ and YA authors. Books will be available to purchase onsite from Politics and Prose Book Store. Events like this are a method of grassroots book promotion, which also includes social media and self-publishing through printing services.
The 2025 Gaithersburg Book Festival will take place at Bohrer Park on May 17, with attendance and parking free.
Founded in 2010, the Festival aims to celebrate the written word and be recognized as one of the top literary events in the country. Dozens of writers will appear for panels and book signing, including bestselling children’s author Dave Barry, mystery writer Jeffrey Deaver, historian David Hajdu, and award-winning science fiction scribe John Scalzi. Liza Achilles and Sarah Adler will serve as moderators for panels on poetry and fiction respectively. Visiting writers will also be involved in free writing workshops, with full details to be released in the lead-up to the event.
The GBF will also be hosting a poetry contest for high school students in the DMV season, with over 100 entries submitted on the theme of “civic duty.” Readers can vote for their favorite online, with the awards presented during the festival.
For younger book lovers, there will be a Children’s Village area with free writing and illustrating workshops as well as appearances from kids’ and YA authors. Books will be available to purchase onsite from Politics and Prose Book Store. Events like this are a method of grassroots book promotion, which also includes social media and self-publishing through printing services.
The 2025 Gaithersburg Book Festival will take place at Bohrer Park on May 17, with attendance and parking free.