BASICS 

Q: WHEN will Portland Book Festival take place?

The 2023 festival will take place on Saturday, November 4, 2023. Subscribe to our e-news and continue to check online for the latest news about the festival.

Q: When can I find out which AUTHORS are participating?

Information from 2022: Here are the participating authors and presenters from 2022.

Q: WHERE is Portland Book Festival being held?

Information from 2022: On Saturday, November 5, 2022, the festival will return to the South Park Blocks, with events at Portland Art Museum and neighboring venues. Passes available now.

Full schedule here. Stage schedules:

• Portland’5
  • Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall — TICKETS REQUIRED
  • Winningstad Theatre
  • Brunish Theatre
• Portland Art Museum
  • Whitsell Auditorium
  • Fields Ballroom (Kids Stage)
  • Miller Gallery
• First Congregational United Church of Christ
• The Old Church (YA Stage)
• Portland Parks Foundation Tent

Q: What is PBF COVER TO COVER?

Information from 2022: We are introducing a brand-new program, PBF Cover to Cover! PBFC2C, as we’re calling it, will take place from November 1 through November 6. Events can take place throughout the city and nearby areas. Lots of information on the program here; schedule of events here.

Q: How much does it COST to attend Portland Book Festival?

Information from 2022: For the in-person Festival day, adult admission is $15 in advance / $25 at the door. Passes available now. Arts for All $5 passes are available with proof of SNAP/Oregon Trail Card, and admission is free for veterans and actively military with valid military ID. Admission is free to attendees 17 and under (or with a valid high school ID); pass still required for free admission. Paid $15/25 admission includes a $5 book voucher redeemable at the book fair the day of the festival. Please note: ALL attendees must pick up a wristband before entering any festival venue. We recommend you pick up your wristband in advance; if you pick up day-of, we recommend arriving at least thirty minutes prior to the first event you want to attend to visit the box office and pick up your wristband. Purchasing your festival pass in advance will speed up this process.

ATTENDING

Q: How do I attend the event?

Information from 2022: Portland Book Festival requires an admission pass, which is $15 in advance and $25 day-of; youth 17 and younger and/or with a valid high school ID enjoy free entry. Subscribe to our e-news and continue to check online for the latest news about the festival.

The two events at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall require an additional ticket for entry; available here.

Q: How do I GET TO Portland Book Festival?

Portland Book Festival attendees are encouraged to walk, bike, or take mass transit to the festival. Trimet has a useful trip planner here. If you are traveling by car, you can find directions at PAM’s site here. The museum/festival does NOT have a dedicated parking lot, but lot and street parking are available throughout downtown Portland. Supplemental bike racks will be available. 

To plan a trip to Portland, visit travelportland.com for information on travel specials and hotel offers.

Q: I PRE-ORDERED my pass. Where can I pick it up?

Information from 2022: You can purchase or pick up passes before the event day from Portland’5 Hatfield Hall (1111 SW Broadway, Portland, OR 97205) during the following dates/times:

Tuesday–Thursday, November 1–3: 12:00–6:00 p.m

We strongly encourage picking up your passes in advance so you are able to skip the lines at the Box Office Tent on the day-of the Festival!

Joining us for the Friday Night Book Market as well as Saturday events? Present or purchase your PBF ticket that evening to receive your Festival wristband and bypass the Saturday morning box office lines.

Festival day, pick up or purchase passes at the Box Office Tent on SW Park Avenue in front of the Portland Art Museum before entering any festival venues.

Advance passes are $15 ($25 day of) and include a wristband for entry to all festival events, and every paid pass includes a $5 voucher for the book fair. Please note: ALL attendees must pick up a wristband before entering any festival venue. We recommend you arrive at least thirty minutes prior to the first event you want to attend to visit the box office and pick up your wristband. Purchasing your festival pass in advance will speed up this process. The Box Office opens at 8:30 a.m.

Q: I want to BUY a pass at the festival. Where do I do that?

Information from 2022: In-person Festival day passes can be purchased in advance online ($15 adults, free for youth 17 and under) or on site day the day of the Festival ($25 adults, free for youth 17 and under). Attendees will receive a wristband at the Festival that allows entry to all festival events and a book voucher for paid passes. Day-of passes sales are at the box office in the tent on SW Park Avenue. PAM’s regular box offices will not be selling festival passes. There is one festival box office location. Please note: ALL attendees must pick up a wristband before entering any festival venue. We recommend you arrive at least 45 minutes prior to the first event you want to attend to visit the box office and pick up your wristband. Purchasing your festival pass in advance will speed up this process.

Q: I am 17 YEARS OR YOUNGER AND/OR A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT and I get free admission. Do I need a pass?

Yes, ALL attendees, including youth, need a wristband for entry. Youth receiving free admission will need to pick up their wristband at the box office in the tent on SW Park Avenue. Free youth passes do NOT include a book voucher. Purchase here. Please note: ALL attendees must pick up a wristband before entering any festival venue. We recommend you arrive at least thirty minutes prior to the first event you want to attend to visit the box office and pick up your wristband. Reserving your festival pass in advance will speed up this process.

Q: I am a VOLUNTEER. Do I need a pass? Where do I pick up my festival pass?

Volunteers receive free entry to the festival in exchange for volunteering. Volunteer registration for the 2023 festival will open in summer 2023. For questions about volunteering, email volunteer@literary-arts.org.

Q: Do I need a TICKET for each Portland Book Festival event?

Information from 2022: With the exception of the two events at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall, your festival wristband admits you to ALL non-Schnitzer festival venues and events. Note that your pass is to the festival itself, which features dozens of events, and does NOT guarantee entry to any individual event.

Please note: ALL attendees must pick up a wristband before entering any festival venue. We recommend you arrive at least thirty minutes prior to the first event you want to attend to visit the box office and pick up your wristband. Purchasing and picking up your pass in advance will speed up this process.

At all venues and all events, entry and seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis; standing in line does not guarantee entry. Rooms will be cleared between sessions, meaning all attendees will be required to exit the venue and will not be permitted to remain in their seats for the next session. If they would like to attend the next session at the same venue they must exit, join the line, and re-enter. No one will be admitted to a full event session unless another attendee leaves that session.

Q: How do I buy BOOKS from Festival authors? Can I get them SIGNED?

We are proud to partner with Portland-based, independent bookstores to provide easy online purchasing options for each of our events. Our indie bookstore partners are Powell’s Books, Broadway Books, Annie Bloom’s Books, and Green Bean Books. All Festival author books purchased from partner bookstores support the authors and publishers who share their work at the festival and the booksellers who have worked hard to keep their businesses open during these difficult times. When you purchase books from our partner stores you are supporting the sustainability of the Festival. 

FESTIVAL EVENTS

Q: Can I STAY at one stage all day?

For safety reasons, rooms will be cleared between all events; to attend the next event at the same stage, you will need to exit the venue and re-enter. This policy allows us to keep to the fire code/capacity for each room. We apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.

Q: Are festival venues and stages wheelchair accessible? Where do I find more information about venue ACCESSIBILITY?

All festival venues and stage locations are wheelchair accessible. More information about accessibility is available at each venue website: Portland Art Museum / Portland’5 / UCC / The Old Church

Q: What accessibility options do you offer attendees who are DEAF or HARD OF HEARING?

Portland’5 and Portland Art Museum both offer Assisted Listening Devices (ALDs). More information about accessibility is available at each venue website: Portland Art Museum / Portland’5 / UCC / The Old Church

Literary Arts also offers sign language interpretation upon request. You must request sign language interpreters at least one week prior to the event by emailing us. Requests are subject to the availability of an interpreter, and seating locations are assigned at the discretion of Literary Arts and the venue staff.

Q: How do I find out which AUTHORS will be the festival?

Information from 2022: The 2022 author lineup is here.

Q: Will the festival authors SIGN BOOKS?

Yes! Most in-person authors will sign immediately following their on-stage event, unless otherwise noted. Books must be purchased from a festival bookstore in order to be signed, with the exception of one pre-owned book per author.

Why do we restrict pre-owned books? On site book sales are absolutely critical to the success of the festival. By purchasing books at the festival, you support the amazing independent bookstores that partner with us as well as the authors and publishers who travel from near and far to share their work at the festival. Thank you for your support and understanding of this policy.

The festival is delighted to feature satellite bookstores to all festival stages, where attendees can purchase a book and get it signed on site. Authors will sign books immediately following the end of their event. Remember: your $5 voucher is good at any vendor at the book fair!

All books purchased at the festival, through the Powell’s, Broadway Books, Annie Bloom’s, or Green Bean bookstores, or at any of the book fair vendors, support the authors and publishers who travel from near and far to share their work at the festival and the booksellers and vendors who invest time and expense to be at the book fair. Literary Arts asks attendees to respect and follow this policy. Please buy early and often and know you are supporting the sustainability of the festival.

Book dealers are NOT allowed to bring books into the book signing area. Dealers with rolling carts and/or wagons are not allowed on the festival grounds.

Q: Will there be a BOOK FAIR at the festival? How do I sign up?

Yes! The book fair will represent some of the best of Portland, Oregon, and Pacific Northwest plus national publishing, writing, literary culture, academic opportunities, and more. Full-price admission to the festival will grant each attendee a $5 book voucher that they can redeem only at the book fair that day.

Applications for the 2023 exhibitor fair are open now. Portland Book Festival offers exhibitors the opportunity to reach thousands of book lovers ready to buy their products or learn about their services. Learn more and apply to join the exhibitor fair here.

Q: How do I redeem my BOOK VOUCHER?

A full-price in-person festival pass includes a $5 book voucher. Festival book vouchers are non-transferrable, cannot be exchanged for cash, and are limited to one per attendee. For example, you could use your one $5 voucher toward the purchase of a $15 book, but you could not purchase a $15 book with three vouchers. Vouchers are redeemable only on festival day at the book fair at the Portland Art Museum. All festival vendors accept vouchers. Vouchers will be distributed to attendees at the point of ticket purchase or at will call pick up. Vouchers are not redeemable for cash and are limited to one per person.

WRITING CLASSES

Q: Will there be WRITING CLASSES at the festival?

Yes! More info coming soon. All class offerings through Literary Arts are available here.

Q: I registered for a WORKSHOP. Where do I get my wristband?

Workshop/class registration does NOT include a festival pass. Festival passes should be purchased separately here.

Q: How do I submit a WRITING CLASS PROPOSAL to the festival?

Portland Book Festival writing classes are curated by the Director of Programs for Writers, Susan Moore. If you are interested in teaching at a future festival, send a proposal to susan@literary-arts.org.

PUBLICITY AND SOCIAL MEDIA

Q: Is there a festival HASHTAG? How do I find the festival on SOCIAL MEDIA?

There is a hashtag! It is #PDXBookFest, and look for Literary Arts on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Q: I’d like to WRITE ABOUT the festival. Whom do I contact?

Please send all Portland Book Festival-related press requests to Jyoti Roy at jyoti@literary-arts.org.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED

Q: Will there be an EXHIBITOR FAIR at the festival?

Yes! The book fair will represent some of the best of Portland, Oregon, and Pacific Northwest plus national publishing, writing, literary culture, academic opportunities, and more. Full-price admission to the festival will grant each attendee a $5 book voucher that they can redeem only at the book fair that day.

Applications for the 2023 exhibitor fair are open now. Portland Book Festival offers exhibitors the opportunity to reach thousands of book lovers ready to buy their products or learn about their services. Learn more and apply to join the exhibitor fair here.

Q: I’m a publishing INDUSTRY professional interested in sending my author to Portland Book Festival. Whom do I contact?

Submissions for the 2023 festival are open now through June 16. Visit our book submissions page to learn more.

Q: I am a WRITER. Can I present my work at the festival?

Submissions for the 2023 festival are open now through June 16. Visit our book submissions page to learn more.

Invitations are issued at the discretion of the festival director, who creates the program well ahead of each festival. Literary Arts receives hundreds of submissions from publicists and authors wishing to present at the festival. Note that the festival focuses on discussion and conversation among writers/artists, and does not include single-author events. Events are interviews or in-conversation style and moderated panel discussions. We welcome your suggestions, but due to the large volume of unsolicited submissions received, Literary Arts is unable to respond to every submission individually or to return materials sent for consideration.

Q: Can you put me IN TOUCH with an author on the program?

For privacy reasons, we are not able to pass on contact details for authors presenting at the festival. We also cannot pass on messages. The best way to contact our guest authors is through their publisher or agent, or through the contact information on the author’s website.

Q: How do I sign up to VOLUNTEER for the festival?

Each year, the in-person festival relies on the support of hundreds of amazing volunteers to ensure the event runs smoothly. Volunteer registration for the 2023 festival will open in summer 2023. Subscribe to our e-news and continue to check online for the latest news about the festival.

Q: How do I become a SPONSOR of the festival?

Inquiries related to corporate sponsorship may be sent to our Deputy Director, Lydah DeBin, at lydah@literary-arts.org.

Q: How do I DONATE to Portland Book Festival and Literary Arts?

Pledge your support to the festival by donating to the Literary Arts general fund through our website and adding “Portland Book Festival” to the order notes. Questions about donating may be sent to our Deputy Director, Lydah DeBin, at lydah@literary-arts.org.

MORE INFO

 Q: What is the best way to stay informed of Portland Book Festival UPDATES?

Subscribe to our monthly e-news and continue to check online for the latest news! Follow our hashtag #PDXBookFest on social media.

Q: What is the anti-harassment policy?

Literary Arts has a zero tolerance policy for harassment of any kind. Access our organization’s anti-harassment policy here.

Q: How does Literary Arts engage with equity through its programs?

We at Literary Arts recognize that a public commitment to equity is crucial to both our own growth and that of the Oregon arts and culture ecosystem. View our statement of solidarity with the Black Lives Matter movement here, and read more about our strategic framework and commitment to equity work here.

Q: What is Literary Arts?

Established in 1984, Literary Arts is a nonprofit organization founded, inspired, and sustained by the likes of Ursula K. Le Guin and William Stafford, and has helped make Oregon more than a place with a bookish reputation. It is a comprehensive, nationally recognized cultural center for writers, publishers, readers, and lovers of thoughtful conversations.

Literary Arts is home to the country’s largest literary lecture series, where speakers share lectures and presentations that they’ve written specifically for Literary Arts or engage in unscripted onstage conversations with up to 2,700 people in a historic concert hall, plus thousands more public radio listeners across the state through a partnership with Oregon Public Broadcasting.

Literary Arts keeps literature democratic with more than 100 free community programs and events every year, connecting multiple generations and skill levels with renowned authors in public schools and spaces. The Writers in the Schools program hires working writers to teach and inspire local high school students. The Oregon Book Awards & Fellowships program awards $30,000 a year to transform Oregon writers into literary ambassadors who engage other Oregonians at writing classes and readings across the state. Portland Book Festival builds community around literature through author events, writing classes, an exhibitor fair, and more. Under the steady hand of an experienced scholar, readers explore demanding books in the discussion-based Delve Readers Seminars.

Q: What if my question wasn’t answered here?

If you have additional questions, please contact la@literary-arts.org.