Fall is here, and what better way to spend it than cozying up with your favorite book? Book enthusiasts are invited to gather together at the 25th anniversary of the Chippewa Valley Book Festival.

Sara Meeks has been the marketing chair for the festival since 2018. The festival was formed through the Eau Claire Regional Arts Council and was traditionally held in autumn, Meeks said. Initially, the festival was called the Festival of Turning Leaves. 

“The festival has always been rooted in the fall, so we’ve stayed true to that,” Meeks said.

Since the festival began, 500 authors have been introduced to Chippewa Valley, 45,500 children have been involved in the Authors in the Schools program and the festival has hosted over 33,500 local residents, according to Meeks.

There are many committees and volunteers to help run the event. The Authors and Events Committee keeps an eye out for potential authors each year, according to Meeks. 

She said the committee is made up of three groups of volunteers: fiction, nonfiction and poetry. The volunteers in the committee nominate their own favorite authors. Then, the group works together to narrow down the options.

“There is truly something for everyone at this year’s festival,” Meeks said.

At this year’s festival there will be an author speaking about Hmong Mythology and fantasy for students in middle school and young adult readers, according to Meeks. 

Mercury Stardust, a debut author, will be speaking about DIY home renovation tips for renters. Other topics such as mysteries, memoirs, travel, sports and mental health will also be presented, Meeks said.

Meeks said to keep an eye out for B.J. Hollar, UW-Eau Claire professor and active festival volunteer for the festival, who will give a presentation on his book “Wisconsin for Kennedy.”

“The timing of his political nonfiction book ahead of November’s election is perfect,” Meeks said.

A lot of excitement is brewing for this year’s event. Meeks said there will be a wide variety of diverse authors and topics being presented.

“Reading is all about understanding the world from someone else’s perspective, and we love giving residents of the Chippewa Valley an up-close experience with such talented authors,” Meeks said.

There will be six days with 13 free author events where attendees may ask questions and have their books signed. While all of the events are free, they are asking for participants to pre-register so they can plan for the crowd size, according to Meeks. 

Meeks said it is not a requirement to have read the book or be well versed in the author before attending the events.

The festival is being held from October 17th through the 22nd. The event venues are located at UW-Eau Claire, L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library and Pablo Center at the Confluence. 

There will be virtual attendance options available for all programs. Recorded events will be posted on the festival website.

To register head on over to cvbookfest.org/events to sign up.

Oestreicher can be reached at [email protected].