Approximately 750 people gathered for the Texas Book Festival's First Edition Literary Gala at the Fairmont Austin on November 15. The group enjoyed presentations from bestselling author Bret Anthony Johnston, Booker Prize long-listed author Claire Messud, 2024 Pulitzer Prize winner Cristina Rivera Garza, and beloved presidential historian Mark Updegrove. The gala kicked off the Festival Weekend that ran November 16th and 17th.
With a vision to inspire Texans of all ages to love reading, Texas Book Festival connects authors and readers through experiences that celebrate the culture of literacy, ideas, and imagination. Founded in 1995 by former First Lady Laura Bush, Mary Margaret Farabee, and a group of volunteers, the nonprofit Texas Book Festival promotes the joys of reading and writing through its annual Festival Weekend, the Reading Rock Stars Title I elementary school program, the Real Reads Title I middle and high school program, grants to Texas libraries, and year-round literary programming.
The 2024 Festival Weekend featured a diverse array of critically acclaimed national and Texas-based writers, including Matthew McConaughey, Malcolm Gladwell, Ernest Cline, and Rachel Khong. The State Capitol and Congress Avenue served as the Festival backdrop as book lovers from across Texas gathered to celebrate their love for literature.
Proceeds from the Texas Book Festival Literary Gala provide essential resources to fulfill the Festival’s mission and fund its literary programs. Event organizers and dedicated leadership are grateful to the generous donors, sponsors, and volunteers who keep the annual Weekend Festival free and open to the public.
All photo credits go to Daemmrich Photography.
