The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

THINGS TO DO TODAY WHAT NOT TO MISS AT AJC DECATUR BOOK FESTIVAL

- By Jill Vejnoska jvejnoska@ajc.com

Age is just a state of mind at the AJC Decatur Book Festival.

At 13 years old, the annual Labor Day weekend event already is the largest independen­t book festival in the country. With 430 authors taking part this year, there’s something guaranteed to appeal to every one of the expected 80,000 attendees.

Still, youngsters of all ages might want to check out a couple of alleged kids’ events that help bookend today’s closing day lineup. We’ve highlighte­d some other author appearance­s on the crowded schedule as well (see decaturboo­kfestival.com for a complete listing of author appearance­s).

■ “Calling All Jedis!” Adam Rex leads a parade to the Children’s Stage, followed by a session devoted to his hilarious new picture book (“Are You Scared, Darth Vader?”). Parade starts at 11:45 a.m. at the Community Bandstand. Author session at noon at Children’s Stage at Decatur Recreation Center.

■ “Logical Family: A Conversati­on With Armistead Maupin.” The best-selling novelist, including the colorfully captivatin­g “Tales of the City” series, has finally written a memoir covering his odyssey from the old South to freewheeli­ng San Francisco and his search for a “logical family” of people to call his own. 1:15 p.m., First Baptist Decatur Sanctuary.

■ “A Girl Stands at the Door: The Generation of Young Women Who Desegregat­ed America’s Schools.” Historian Rachel Devlin illuminate­s the brave young black women who were at the vanguard of the struggle to desegregat­e America’s schools. 2:30 p.m., Historic DeKalb Courthouse.

■ “Atticus Finch — The Biography.” Emory University historian Joseph Crespino examines how Harper Lee’s real-life father provided key inspiratio­n for her books — and their complex presentati­ons of the fictional father/lawyer character in “To Kill a Mockingbir­d” and “Go Set a Watchman.” 3:45 p.m., Decatur Presbyteri­an Sanctuary.

■ “Here Say: Speaking as Performanc­e.” Four top writers and storytelle­rs have a “lively conversati­on” on the power of words and stories on the page, on stage and beyond. 5 p.m., Decatur Library.

■ Harry and the Potters in concert. The festival closes out with this free performanc­e by the “first Wizard Rock band.” 6:30 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.), Children’s Stage at Decatur Recreation Center.

■ Charles Frazier will appear at the AJC tent to sign books at noon.

 ?? CONTRIBUTE­D CAMP ?? Visitors check out a booth during the 2017 AJC Decatur Book Festival. Now in its 13th year, the annual Labor Day weekend event is the largest independen­t book festival in the country.
CONTRIBUTE­D CAMP Visitors check out a booth during the 2017 AJC Decatur Book Festival. Now in its 13th year, the annual Labor Day weekend event is the largest independen­t book festival in the country.

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