2023 Nebraska Book Festival
Free and open to the public! More details about presenters are forthcoming. Keep up with the Festival on Facebook at Nebraska Book Festival Event page.
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Philosophy
The festival is held to celebrate Nebraska’s literary heritage and contemporary authors and to stimulate public interest in books, reading, and the written word. By gathering together contemporary writing talent of our state and surrounding areas, the festival provides an opportunity for participants to cultivate an understanding of our history, culture and community.

Meet the Presenters & Authors
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The String Beans | Prime Time Reading | Prairie Trout Writers Group |
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Matt Mason | Dana Fritz | Joy Castro |
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Carla Ketner | John Mabry |
Program Schedule
Updated as of
April 17, 2023, the schedule of programing is open to change.
Saturday,
JUNE 10TH - Literary Trivia - White Elm Brewing (720
Van Dorn St)
Starting at 6:00pm Join us at While Elm Brewing for drinks and Literary
trivia!
SATURDAY,
JUNE 10TH - 2023 EVENTS & FEATURED AUTHORS - Lincoln Foundation
Garden & LCL Bennett Martin Branch (1415 N Street)
SATURDAY,
JUNE 10TH - Non scheuled activies
10:00 a.m. - The String Beans --
Local Lincoln music group for kids and families. From pop and country to rap and rock n’ roll, these
goofy guys perform a wide variety of original, family-friendly songs about all the things kids love:
animals, cartoons, food, science, sports and more! Each show is hilarious, inclusive and spontaneous,
and each catchy tune is designed to get every audience dancing and singing along!
11:00 - Noon - Prime Time Family Reading Story hour --
Sponsored by Humanities Nebraska. Led by a storyteller and discussion
leader, children and their families meet to read and discuss an
award-winning children’s book. Discussion encourages critical and
analytical thinking, helps develop connections between storybooks and
real-life situations. Our Prime Time storyteller / discussion leader duo
will be Kylie Barber and Will Teegerstrom from Calvert Elementary. The
books are: Mole Music by David McPhail and The Big Orange Splot by Daniel Manus Pinkwater. We will give away two copies of each book at the end of the program as door prizes.
Noon-12:45 p.m. - Carla Ketner -- Author and
Illustrator Event for elementary children and will be all about her soon-to-be-released book about Ted Kooser,
Ted Kooser: More Than a Local Wonder.
Noon - 12:45 p.m. - “Pull Back the Curtain” on title selection for One Book One Nebraska and One Book One Lincoln --
1:00 - 1:45 p.m. - Prairie Trout Writing Group Panel, moderated by Pat Leach -- The Prairie Trout writing group includes award-winning authors Pam Barger, Twyla Hansen, Mary Pipher, Marge Saiser and Karen Shoemaker. For this event, they will read individually from their works and address questions about the impact of the group and the evolution of their work together.
2:00-2:50 p.m. - Author Panel, interviewed by Pat Leach,
with Nebraska Authors Joy Castro, Dana Fritz and
John Mabry.
3:00-4:00 p.m. - Nebraska State Poet Matt Mason - Slam Poetry Showcase
featuring Greg Harries, Trac Schacht, Bianca Swift, and Noni Williams.
10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. - Local Food trucks, Vendor
stalls for local booksellers and authors, Zine making activity tables,
Poetry Typwriter Booth, Face painting, Balloon animals.
History
The 2023 Nebraska Book Festival marked the 27th annual book festival dating back to 1991. Historically, the Nebraska Book Festival has offered high-quality speakers, presenters, moderators, and workshop facilitators.
The Nebraska Book Festival (formerly the Nebraska Literature Festival 1991-2001) has been co-sponsored by the Nebraska Center for the Book and the Humanities Nebraska (formerly Nebraska Humanities Council) since its inception in 1991. The Nebraska Library Commission and many other organizations and individuals have contributed to the festivals over the years.
The change of name from Nebraska Literature Festival to Nebraska Book Festival broadens the scope of the event to include contemporary Nebraska writers and books, as well as the great classic writers of Nebraska’s literary heritage. The festival is dedicated to Nebraska writers and Nebraska books. It celebrates the reading and writing life of the Great Plains.
Festivals
Click on a year for event details, photos, festival programs, and more.
- 2018 August 25, UNL City Campus Union, Lincoln
- 2017 July 15, Union Plaza, Lincoln
- 2016 No festival held in this year
- 2015 April 25, UNO Community Engagement Center, Omaha
- 2014 April 25-26, UNO Thompson Alumni Center, Omaha
- 2013 April 5-6, UNO Thompson Alumni Center, Omaha
- 2012 March 31, Downtown Lincoln
- 2011 May 21, Downtown Lincoln
- 2010 No festival held in this year
- 2009 November 14, Downtown Lincoln
- 2008 October 17-18, Downtown Lincoln
- 2007 October 26-28, Downtown Lincoln
- 2006 October 6-7, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Lincoln
- 2005 October 7-8, Nebraska Wesleyan University, Lincoln
- 2004 September 17-18, University of Nebraska at Kearney
- 2003 October 24-25, Creighton University, Omaha
- 2002 September 13-14, Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer, Grand Island
- 2001 September 21-22, Peru State College, Peru
- 2000 September 15-17, Beatrice & Lincoln
- 1999 September 17-18, Chadron State College, Chadron
- 1998 September 17-19, Wayne State College, Wayne
- 1997 No festival was held in this year
- 1996 September 20-21, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
- 1995 September 22-23, University of Nebraska at Kearney
- 1994 September 22-24, University of Nebraska at Omaha
- 1993 September 17-18, University of Nebraska-Lincoln
- 1992 September 25-26, University of Nebraska at Kearney
- 1991 September 28, University of Nebraska at Omaha
Related Links
-
National Book Festival — Washington, DC
Sponsors






MEDIA PARTNERSHIPS | SUPPORTING SPONSOR | KEY SPONSOR |
Lincoln Journal Star KFOR 10/11 |
Nebraska Center for the Book Nebraska Library Commission University of Nebraska Press Lincoln City Libraries Humanities Nebraska |
Friends of the University of Nebraska Press Union Bank Francie & Finch BookShop Lincoln Comunity Foundation |
Keep up with the Festival at https://www.facebook.com/NebraskaBookFestival.