What We Do
What is the Harbor Springs Festival of the Book Signature Event?
Held in beautiful Harbor Springs, Michigan, the Festival is a three-day celebration of readers, writers, books, and the literary craft. We feature up to 50 nationally published authors and illustrators in sessions including eight genres: fiction, nonfiction, mystery/thriller, poetry, cookbook, picture book/early reader, middle grade, and young adult. Presenter/book submission guidelines can be viewed here.
Our Main Street, our lakeshore, and our welcoming hospitality provide the perfect setting for Festival sessions held in venues throughout downtown Harbor Springs.
Registration is required and includes access to all the general sessions, such as panel discussions, authors in conversation, solo presentations, and readings. Additional ticketed events are available throughout the weekend including a keynote address, cookbook lunches, and more. The 2024 Festival registration and all ticketed events SOLD OUT in record time.
Make sure you are signed up for our newsletter to receive the most current information on Festival-related activities and mark your calendar for the 10th annual event on September 26 - 28, 2025.
As the only annual multi-day, multi-genre book festival in Michigan, listen to what our presenters have to say about why you should consider putting the Harbor Springs Festival of the Book on your calendar today!
Author/Illustrator Lucy Ruth Cummins presents to students at Harbor Springs Elementary.
Authors In Schools
Since the inaugural Harbor Springs Festival of the Book, presenters have visited over 150 classrooms in six area elementary, middle, and high schools. On September 27, 2024, 18 authors/illustrators presented over 40 sessions to over 4,000 students in Alanson, Harbor Springs, Inland River, Pellston, and Petoskey. Immediately following the Festival, a presenter visited Beaver and Mackinac islands. Students were able to hear from presenters who are the very best in their craft.
Each year, students and presenters participate together in drawing or writing activities, and through these creative projects, students hear authors read and discuss the crafts of illustration, writing, and revision. Also, students hear the importance of brainstorming, character, setting, and dialogue, which reinforces and reinvigorates the learning that has been taking place in the classroom.
Authors in Schools is made possible through the support of local teachers and administrators—and our many school visit volunteers. Thank you to all who help inspire readers and celebrate the culture of books with our children and youth!
Content Statement
The Harbor Springs Festival of the Book considers the opportunity for distribution of books—and accompanying author/illustrator visits in schools—to be one of the most vital services the organization provides. Each year, the featured titles are selected by our Author Committee, which is comprised of educators, career booksellers, published authors, parents, and grandparents.
Before the books even reach publication, they have already undergone a rigorous and long-established editing and marketing process that deems them age-appropriate based on length, vocabulary, and content. The diversity of books presented at the Festival are meant to meet young readers at their socially-accepted developmental levels—while also encouraging discussion, creativity, exploration, and honest emotion.
GENRE/AGE
Board Book (0-3) Picture Book (3-7) Early Reader (6-10) Middle Grade (8-12) Young Adult (12+) Upper Young Adult (14+)
Books for Schools
presented by the Frey Foundation in celebration of their 50th anniversary
Through the Authors in Schools program, the Festival is committed to meeting children in their classrooms, where the highest number of students have the opportunity to engage in creative conversations with the presenters. The Books for Schools program and Books for Schools Fund were created because when the Festival is able to give children a book they can call their own and it is personally signed by the author, it now becomes more personal, powerful and helps children see the ways in which stories are treasures and reading is the key to unlocking them.
This year the Harbor Springs Festival of the Book has been awarded a grant of $36,750 from the Frey Foundation for the 2024 Books for Schools program. The Festival is proud to announce the Frey Foundation as the program’s presenting sponsor in honor of the foundation’s 50th anniversary. This funding supported the books purchased for visits to Emmet County classrooms participating with this year’s classroom visits on Friday, September 27th, during the 2024 Festival.
Thank you, Frey Foundation, for your support of our Books for Schools program.
Year Round Programming
THE HARBOR SPRINGS FESTIVAL OF THE BOOK PRESENTS
One Bay, One Book
Community Reads
Each year, the Harbor Springs Festival of the Book selects one book for the community to read, followed by an opportunity to come together to discuss the book with the author.
Unlike other Festival events, the selected book will be chosen from the Festival’s author alumni. Criteria to be considered will include relevance for the entire community regarding the book’s theme, appeal to a variety of age groups, and its timeliness or timelessness.
2025 Selection - Last House by Jessica Shattuck
Jessica, a 2018 Festival presenter, will be in Harbor Springs for two in-person events. Mark you calendar now for May 1st & 2nd and watch this space for more information regarding the program times and locations.
2024 Selection - Happiness Falls by Angie Kim
Two in-person events were held with Angie on May 2nd and 3rd. Our thanks to all who attended the book group discussion, hosted by the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians at their Governmental Center in Harbor Springs on May 2nd and the “in conversation” event with past presenter, Lillian Li, on May 3rd at Birchwood Farms Golf & Country Club, also in Harbor Springs.
2023 Selection - The Last Winter by Porter Fox
Two in-person events were held with Porter on March 9th & March 10th. Thank you to all who attended and to the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians and Nub’s Nob for hosting our events.
2022 Selection - The Great Believers by Rebecca Makkai
Rebecca participated in a book group discussion and was in conversation with Good Hart Writer in Residence, Carter Sickels. The conversation with Carter is available for viewing here.
2021 Selection - The Removed by Brandon Hobson
Interested in Past Festivals and Events?
View virtual event videos and past Festival program by clicking on the tabs below.