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.

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


The String Beans	Prime Time Reading	Prairie Trout Writers Group

Matt Mason	Dana Fritz	Joy Castro

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)

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.

SATURDAY, JUNE 10TH - Non scheuled activies

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

National Book Festival

Facebook

Keep up with the Festival at https://www.facebook.com/NebraskaBookFestival.

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

2019 Nebraska Book Festival

For more information: