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Louisiana's excellent annual literary festival returns for the sixteenth year to pack hundreds of authors, literary-minded organizations, and bibliophiles into the area around the State Capitol building. Upwards of thirty thousand book lovers come to enjoy the author appearances, readings, panel discussions, book signings, food, children’s activities, live music, and cooking demonstrations spread throughout the State Library of Louisiana, the Capitol Park Museum, the State Capitol and Grounds, and neighboring streets.

There are events for the young and old, free and open to the public, with a Young Readers Pavilion, storytellers, craft making, and more to keep kids engaged all day, and for older youth, there’s the Teen HQ. Looking for a more intense writing experience? On Friday, November 1 the Louisiana Center for the Book in the State Library will host four pre-festival WordShops, writing workshops led by highly credentialed professionals on a variety of aspects of craft ($50 per workshop, registration required at bontempstix.com.)

Festival from 9 am–4 pm in Downtown Baton Rouge. Free. louisianabookfestival.org.