2019 National Book Festival

The 19th annual Library of Congress National Book Festival will be held Saturday, Aug. 31, 2019, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. The event is free and open to the public.

Festival Details, Authors, and Schedule

Headlining Author:  U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg

See other authors here.

For a festival map and complete schedule of the day’s events, please visit www.loc.gov/bookfest.

You can also download a festival app onto your smartphone at www.loc.gov/apps.  At information booths in the lobby of the Convention Center, you can pick up free festival guides, posters, and tote bags. 

Cost:  $25.00 To confirm a seat reservation, call 540/662-9041, Ext 31 or email friends@handleyregional.org. Include your phone number.

Transportation Schedule & Details:

The Schrock Tour and Charter Bus leaves the parking lot of Solenberger's Hardware on Berryville Avenue (Rt. 7), Winchester, at 7:30 a.m., and begins the return from Washington, D.C at 6:00 p.m. Travelers are usually back in Winchester at 7:30 p.m. 

Please wear comfortable clothes and shoes.  The festival takes place on all four floors of the Convention Center and walking is involved.  There are broad stairways, escalators, and elevators to help you move between floors, as well as a host of festival volunteers in colorful t-shirts to help you find your way.

Our Schrock bus will leave from the parking lot in front of Solenberger Hardware at 832 Berryville Avenue in Winchester.  We’ll begin boarding the bus at 7:00 a.m. and leave promptly at 7:30 in order to arrive at the Convention Center in time to go through enhanced security, get oriented to the layout, and be in place for the first events of the day at 9:30 a.m.Park your car in one of the spaces nearest the chain-link fence so as not to interfere with customer parking during the day.  Remember to lock your car and remove any valuables from view.  Vehicles left in the parking lot are the responsibility of their owners; Solenberger is not responsible for theft or damage.

We’ll be dropped off at the L Street South entrance to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, located at 801 Mt. Vernon Place.  You may bring one bag into the Convention Center, in addition to a handbag or purse.  No outside food or drink may be brought into the Center.  Food and drink will be available for purchase on the Lower Level of the building and there are several restaurants within walking distance.  Please note that many afternoon talks will conclude at 5:40 p.m. and that lines to the restrooms may be long.  At 5:45 or 5:50 p.m., please make your way back to the L Street South entrance where we were dropped off.  We’ll re-board the bus at 6:00 and leave the Convention Center shortly thereafter.  We expect to arrive back in Winchester about 7:30 p.m. 

Make reservations first and send check payable to Friends of Handley Regional Library (FHRL), P.O. Box 4, Winchester, VA  22604.   Checks must be received at least 2 weeks before the trip. Reservations: First come - first serve

Minimum of 20 paid reservations required for the trip.