Frequently Asked Questions

What is a book festival?

A book festival is an opportunity for authors and book lovers to join together in a festive environment. At the AJC DBF Presented by DeKalb Medical, you can mingle with your favorite authors, discover new ones, or pick up that book you have been dying to read. For children, a book festival is a great place to develop a love for reading.

What happens at a book festival?

A lot. Every book festival is a little different, but at most festivals you can expect:

• A keynote speech by an author of national or international importance
• Authors reading from their books or talking about their work.
• Panels of authors talking about a theme common to all their work
• Authors signing copies of their books for readers
• Tables, tents or booths where you can buy books and other reading-related products

What unique events is the Atlanta Journal-Constitution Decatur Book Festival Presented by DeKalb Medical offering?

The AJC DBF has everything you can find at other book festivals, plus much, much more. Here are some of the highlights:

• A children’s stage featuring interactive activities and presentations by top authors and illustrators
• Live music performed by nationally touring musicians
• Cooking demonstrations by noted cookbook authors
• Food and beer vendors, and a wine garden
• An opening day Children's Parade
• A Youth Poetry Slam, for kids 12–18 years old
• A Poetry Slam for adults
• The annual conference of the Georgia Antiquarian Booksellers Association, including opportunities to examine and buy collectible books. Bring in your own books for appraisal

Why Decatur?

The Atlanta area—the economic and cultural center of the Southeast—has long needed and greatly deserves a successful, viable book festival. And no part of Atlanta offers a better cross-section of book lovers and experienced festival organizers than Decatur.

Only four square miles in size, Decatur is home to history (older than the city of Atlanta), academia (Emory and Agnes Scott Universities), and a long–standing appreciation for arts and books (the Decatur Arts Festival, the Georgia Center for the Book).

With the cultural perks of a university town (local book clubs, art galleries, and music) and access to the resources of a major city (press outlets, public transportation), Decatur is the perfect setting for the vibrant book festival Atlanta so desires.

Another reasons Decatur was chosen to host the AJC DBF is its proven track record for hosting fun, successful, and well–attended events.

From its very first organizational meeting, the AJC Decatur Book Festival has been modeled on the Decatur Arts Festival, the city’s premiere celebration of the arts. Drawing over 50,000 attendees each Labor Day Weekend, the AJC Decatur Book Festival proves year after year that downtown Decatur is one of the best venues in greater metropolitan Atlanta for family–friendly events.