It’s pretty spectacular that the National Book Festival is turning 15 this year! Started in 2001 by first lady Laura Bush and the Library of Congress, the event has experienced tremendous growth over the years.
I’ve actually worked on the festival planning team in various capacities for the past ten years and by far the best part has been interacting with diverse festivalgoers from all over and witnessing them enjoy this grand celebration of authors, books and reading.
For this week’s #ThrowbackThursday post, here’s a slideshow of the festival and some of its attendees over the years. I hope this gives you a peak into the joy and excitement to be had for all at the nation’s book festival.
2001 National Book Festival. Mrs. Bush, Dr. Billington, authors and other celebrities at the opening ceremony.
2001 National Book Festival. Music group performs at first National Book Festival.
2002 National Book Festival. Book club members pose with David McCullough. Photo by Charlynn Spencer Pyne.
2002 National Book Festival. Girl Scout Brownie troop at the festival. Photo by Charlynn Spencer Pyne.
2002 National Book Festival. Pavilion of the States. Photo by Charlynn Spencer Pyne.
2003 National Book Festival. Bob Lanier and other basketball players lead a session. Photo by Michaela McNichol.
2004 National Book Festival. Photo by George Stevens.
2004 National Book Festival. Book signing line. Photo by Gail Fineberg.
2005 National Book Festival
2005 National Book Festival. Veterans History Program signing. Photo by Charlynn Spencer Pyne.
2006 National Book Festival. PBS character Snook catching a ride. Photo by Nancy Alfaro.
2006 National Book Festival. Tuskegee Airman Ezra M. Hill Sr. with fans of his book. Photo by Nancy Alfaro.
2007 National Book Festival
2007 National Book Festival. Letters About Literature student essay contest winners. Photo by Pat Fisher.
2008 National Book Festival. Photo by Nancy Alfaro.
2008 National Book Festival
2008 National Book Festival. Pavilion of the States.
2009 National Book Festival. Stellar panel of children’s authors.
2009 National Book Festival. Photo by Nancy Alfaro.
2009 National Book Festival
2010 National Book Festival
2010 National Book Festival
2011 National Book Festival. Family adds their photo to the festival album in the Library of Congress Pavilion.
2011 National Book Festival. Photo by Abby Brack.
2011 National Book Festival. Photo by Kimberly Powell.
2012 National Book Festival. Photo by Kimberly Powell.
2012 National Book Festival. Winners of the “A Book That Shaped Me” summer writing contest. Photo by Derrel Todd.
2012 National Book Festival. Volunteers roll posters. Photo by Derrel Todd.
2013 National Book Festival
2013 National Book Festival
2013 National Book Festival
2014 National Book Festival. Photo by Ralphael Small.
2014 National Book Festival. Photo by Ralphael Small.