A harvest of great festivals
Readers and writers make hay at an abundance of literary get-togethers offered every fall
Poetry readings, author festivals, literary parties, book fairs.
Across this country, readers and writers alike are debunking the notion that their activities are isolating or solitary. In fact, there is a strong writing community that loves to break the silence and share ideas whenever it can. And that community turns out in droves to discover new books, and share conversations and impressions at the dozens of festivals that take place across the country each year, many of them free.
Some of the biggest are in the fall, when hundreds of authors from around the world meet readers, engage in celebrations, talk about the literary issues of our times and have fun talking books — right across the country.
Eden Mills Writers’ Festival
What: Taking over the picturesque village of Eden Mills, it’s billed as “a festival for readers” and has been held each September since 1989. Most of the events are held outdoors, with pedestrians taking over the village streets. Headline writers include Marina Endicott and Guy Gavriel Kay, while Saturday writing workshops feature great writers with hard-won advice: Finding SelfConfidence as a Writer with Cecil Foster; Inspiring Children to Write with Marie-Louise Gay; and Expand Your Universe with Anakana Schofield. The big day is Festival Sunday, with readings and interviews featuring around 50 authors. When: Sept. 6 to 8 Where: Near Guelph, Ont., along the banks of the Eramosa River in five outdoor venues and one indoor venue. Bring a blanket or a chair. Web: edenmillswritersfestival.ca
Words in the Woods
What: Now in its fourth year, Word in the Woods, the Dunedin Literary Festival, has an environment theme this year. With Jennifer Robson, Bianca Marais, Oakland Ross, Nathan Ripley, Antanas Sileika, Jessica Westhead, Anthony De Sa and others appear in the Authors Tent in free events between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. A few kids’ events are happening at1 p.m. and 3 p.m. There is also a ticketed event (already sold out) featuring Diana Beresford-Kroeger and Juno-winning Sarah Harmer, for which organizers are asking attendees to bring “a resusable mug, bowl and utensils. We are trying for plastic-free and waste-free.” When: Sept. 14 Where: Dunedin, near the village of Creemore in Simcoe County. Events are held in Dunedin Park as well as the Dunedin Village Hall across the road.
Web: wordsinthewoods.com/ Thin Air: Winnipeg International Writers Festival
What: The stats: 60 events, 54 writers, 61 books, 26 venues. Events run from morning until evening each day with a wide array of offerings: from writing craft, to Voices in the Circle focusing on Indigenous voices, a school program and a variety of readings, panels, etc. Writers include Joshua Whitehead, Adam Foulds, Martha Baillie, Christy Ann Conlin, Michael Christie and others, culminating with An Evening With Margaret Atwood on Sept. 30. When: Sept. 20 to 28 Where: Venues throughout and just outside the city.
Web: thinairwinnipeg.ca The Word on the Street
What: The Toronto version of WOTS celebrates its 30th anniversary of taking books and authors and readings to open spaces so readers and writers can share stories right where they live. With books and authors galore, and special programming for kids, it’s a yearly pilgrimage for many book lovers.
When: Sept. 14 in Halifax; Sept. 21 in Lethbridge, Alta.; Sept. 22 in Toronto.
Where: Harbourfront Centre in Toronto; the Halifax Central Library; and the Main Library in Lethbridge. Free.
Web: thewordonthestreet.ca Kingston WritersFest
What: First launched in 2006, this festival features more than 50 events with 70 or so authors from around the world taking part in readings, panels and more. Highlights include Stories of Indigenous Experience; Newfoundland writer Michael Crummey interviewed by Steven Heighton; a writers’ retreat that includes master classes; and their annual Book Lovers’ Lunch. When: Sept. 25 to 29 Where: Downtown Kingston, with a base at the Holiday Inn Waterfront. Web: kingstonwritersfest.ca The FOLD Kids Bookfest
What: Broken out from the main Festival of Literary Diversity, which has been running since 2016, this is the first iteration dedicated to children’s literature and storytellers exclusively. It includes discussions on diversity in children’s literature, readings (even some where you’re encouraged to where your pyjamas), workshops for kids who want to write, a book sale, animal show and music. When: Sept. 27 to 29 Where: Downtown Brampton at the Peel Art Gallery, the Garden Square mainstage and other central locations. All events free.
Web: thefoldcanada.org/kids Whistler Writers Festival
What: Four days in the mountains with more than 70 writers, presenters and publishing types including Cherie Dimaline, Lorna Crozier, Emma Donoghue, Michael Crummey, Maude Barlow, Harold R. Johnson, Andrew Pyper. This festival is known for its intimate setting and chance to meet and chat with the authors. Master class workshops, pitching sessions and scenic walks are some of the highlights. When: Oct. 17 to 20 Where: Various locations in downtown Whistler. Web: whistlerwritersfest.com Stratford Writers Festival
What: There’s an interesting focus on food and lit or, simply, an appetite for words with: a wine and food book social with author Becky Blake at the Stratford Chefs School, natch; a Literary Brunch and a Literary Cafe, both with Mary Berg of Mary’s Kitchen Crush; and Farm to Table: A Literary Dinner with Andrew Coppolino, to name a few. There are plenty of workshops for aspiring writers, too, including a children’s book self-publishing workshop, an author photo workshop and more. When: Oct. 18 to 27 Where: A variety of locations in Stratford, Ont.
Web: stratfordwritersfestival.com The Vancouver Writers Fest
What: The big West Coast festival includes more than 80 events this year featuring local and international writers. The Star’s Tanya Talagais their guest curator, programming five events. They’ve just released their lineup, which includes Naomi Klein, Maude Barlow, Alicia Elliott and Adam Gopnik on the nonfiction side; fiction fans can see Emma Donoghue, Tash Aw, Booker finalist Chigozie Obioma and Elif Batuman, among others. To get you set, they’ve curated a reading list of books “at the centre” of this year’s offerings. When: Oct. 21 to 27 Where: On and around Granville Island
Web: writersfest.bc.ca Ottawa International Writers Festival
What: This festival goes twice a year, in spring and fall. That’s a good thing given all the writers that come through town.
The fall iteration features a who’s who of Canadian writers with new books out including: Terry Fallis, Nathan Ripley, Lynn Coady, Michael Crummey, Sally Armstrong, Johanna Skibsrud and many more. There are free events at noon Friday, Monday and Tuesday, as well as a few others. When: Oct. 24 to 29 Where: Various venues in and around Ottawa
Web: writersfestival.org Toronto International Festival of Authors
What: The granddaddy of lit fests in Canada, TIFA — renamed a few years ago from the International Festival of Authors — is celebrating its 40th anniversary. Their mandate has always been about introducing new writers to audiences, from Canada and around the world, but there are plenty of marquee readings including André Alexis, Mona Awad, Angela Davis, Cherie Dimaline, John Irving and Thomas King among others.
This year also features Europe on Tour, presenting works in their original languages, and lots of other readings, panels, parties and programs to get writers and publishers from different countries together. When: Oct. 24 to Nov. 3 Where: Most of the events take place at the Harbourfront Centre, but there’s also a travelling road show at other Toronto locations.
Web: festivalofauthors.ca Wild Writers Festival
What: Put on by The New Quarterly journal and organized around master classes, workshops, author panels, interviews and special events that haven’t yet been released. There’s already a powerful lineup: David Bezmozgis, Michael Crummey, George Elliott Clarke, Elizabeth Hay, Amanda Leduc, Kathy Page, Casey Plett, Sarah Tolmie and a wealth of other poets, writers and publishers have been announced, with more to be added. When: Nov. 1 to 3 Where: The CIGI Campus and Balsillie School of International Affairs in Waterloo, Ont.
Web: wildwriters.ca