Who are we?

We represent a community of Literary Fanatics Book Addicts Written Word Devotees Spoken Word Fans and so much more!

We represent a community of

Literary Fanatics! Book Addicts! Written Word Devotees! Spoken Word Fans!

Did you know the Decatur Book Festival is one of the largest independent book festivals in the country? Over the years, we’ve brought world-class authors and book lovers together in the city of Decatur to celebrate and enjoy all things literary – book signings, author readings, poetry slams, writing workshops, and more.

It is our mission to encourage a love of reading, inquiry, and conversation in people of all ages, and build an enthusiastic and inclusive community of readers and writers throughout the south, sparking social, creative, and intellectual engagement.

The well-being of our community is of top importance to the Decatur Book Festival board of directors and staff. We have shifted our 2020 festival to virtual programming. As COVID-19 continues to evolve, we will closely monitor the situation and make decisions about the return of the physical festival within the guidelines provided by public health officials.

How it all began

DBF founder and Decatur resident Daren Wang posed a question in February 2005 – How can we celebrate the spoken and written word? Collaborating with fellow literature-lovers including Tom Bell, Linda Harris, Richard Lenz, Alice Murray, Bill Starr, and Judy Turner, Wang brought his idea to life through an annual book festival.

Keys to success

While the annual festival received rave reviews, festival attendees fell in love with Decatur, too. And after our first (and very successful) festival in 2006, we grew to twice as many authors and vendors, and drew tens of thousands of attendees. That’s when we knew the dream was real – DBF would be a permanent fixture in Atlanta.

Years later, we’re still thriving and growing, building partnerships, attracting both new and high-profile authors, and encouraging the love of reading and writing across all walks of life.

Why we do it

The Decatur Book Festival encourages a love of the written and spoken word by engaging a diverse community of readers, writers, and creative spirits. In pursuing this mission, the festival seeks to:

  • Showcase an array of national and international voices at the festival and throughout the year.
  • Connect readers with writers.
  • Illustrate the many ways reading encourages personal and cultural empathy and knowledge.
  • Encourage the love of reading and creative expression in children and adults.

Get Involved

Our book festival has grown year over year thanks to the dedication and involvement of our community, our tribe! If you’d like to get involved, we’d love to have you. There are numerous ways you can show your support – as a volunteer, sponsor, exhibitor, or donor.