Before the year winds down and Miami descends into Basel madness, the city is celebrating the landmark anniversary of another premiere cultural event, The Miami Book Fair.

The homegrown book fair returns to Miami Dade College’s Wolfson Campus this month, marking 40 years of bringing global authors and luminaries to South Florida.

In recent years, guests have run the gamut from Ta-Nehisi Coates to Patti Smith and Michael Fanone. This year, guest authors and panelists include actress Kerry Washington, legendary singer/songwriter Joan Baez, former Washington Post executive editor Martin Baron, and local artist and author Octavia Yearwood.

In addition to the banner conversations and panels happening throughout the week, the popular Street Fair returns Friday, November 17 through Sunday, November 19. Among its highlights is Children’s Alley, a packed program of interactive activities for the youngest readers at the Book Fair.

For the adults, there’s the Lost Chapter Rooftop Lounge with cocktails, mocktails and light bites from the Smorgasbord Miami food market, as well as the opening night block party with DJ/producer Louie Vega.

With eight straight days of programming, it might seem daunting to curate the ideal itinerary. To ease the process, we’ve compiled a list of Miami Book Fair highlights to add to your schedule.

 

Kerry Washington, in conversation with Eva Longoria: Sunday, Nov. 12, at 4 p.m. $40. LINK.

 

Opening night block party with DJ/producer Louie Vega: Sunday, Nov. 12, at 5 p.m. LINK.

 

Jada Pinkett Smith, in conversation with Lena Waithe: Sunday, Nov. 12, at 5:30 p.m. $42. LINK.

 

Joan Baez, in conversation with Justin Richmond: Sunday, Nov. 12, at 7 p.m. $48. LINK.

 

Lost Chapter Rooftop Lounge: Monday, Nov. 13 through Thursday, Nov. 16, at 6 p.m. LINK.

 

Ni Locas Ni Solas: Narrativa Escrita por Mujeres Desde EE.UU.: Thursday, Nov. 16, at 7 p.m. LINK.

 

So You Want to Start a Literary Publication: A Roundtable with Editors & Writers: Saturday, Nov. 18, at 10:30 a.m. LINK.

 

Celebrating the National Book Award Nominees for Nonfiction: Saturday, Nov. 18, at 11 a.m. LINK.

 

Photographer Manny Hernandez on Candids Miami 2: Saturday, Nov. 18, at 11 a.m. LINK.

 

Celebrating the National Book Award Nominees for Fiction: Saturday, Nov. 18, at 12:30 p.m. LINK.

 

Carl Hiaasen: Saturday, Nov. 18, at 1 p.m. LINK.

 

Chronicling the Sunshine State: A Conversation with Kirsten Hines: Saturday, Nov. 18, at 1 p.m. LINK.

 

Celebrating the National Book Award Nominees for Poetry: Saturday, Nov. 18, at 1:30 p.m. LINK.

 

Daughters of Latin America: A Conversation: Saturday, Nov. 18, at 3 p.m. LINK.

 

Miami: Punk Rock City: Saturday, Nov. 18, at 3 p.m. LINK.

 

On John Prine’s Life & Legacy: Saturday, Nov. 18, at 4 p.m. LINK.

 

Beatlemania Meets Miami, with Bob Kealing and Joe Johnson: Saturday, Nov. 18, at 5 p.m. LINK.

 

Macabre Fiction: Female Body Horror: Sunday, Nov. 19, at 11 a.m. LINK.

 

New York: Undressed, with Elyssa Maxx Goodman and Fancy Feast: Sunday, Nov. 19, at 12 p.m. LINK.

 

Champions of Art: The Enduring Devotion of Private Collectors: Sunday, Nov. 19, at 1 p.m. LINK.

 

Miami Legendary, with Andrew Otazo and Mario Alejandro Ariza: Sunday, Nov. 19, at 2 p.m. LINK.

 

Sweet World: A Tribute to Maureen Seaton: Sunday, Nov. 19, at 4 p.m. LINK.

 

Celebrating 50 Years of Ms. Magazine: Sunday, Nov. 19, at 4 p.m. LINK.

 

Arts in Miami, with Octavia Yearwood, Chris Adamo and Stuart Sheldon: Sunday, Nov. 19, at 4 p.m. LINK.

Martin Baron. Sunday, Nov. 19, at 5 p.m. LINK. 

 

Text by Celia Almeida

Photo courtesy of Miami Book Fair

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