The largest literary event in Las Vegas, the Vegas Valley Book Festival, is set for November 3-7 at various venues in downtown Las Vegas. The Festival will draw roughly 10,000 people including more than 100 authors for panel discussions, readings, book signings, workshops, poetry readings, spoken word performances, exhibitions, and other special programs including the Children’s Book Festival and the Comic Book Festival. For the first time, the Vegas Valley Book Festival will also include Feasting on Words – A Celebration of Food and Literature, with Las Vegas’ own celebrity chef Rick Moonen of RM Seafood. 

Festival-goers can choose from more than 100 events over the five days, most of which take place downtown at the historic Fifth Street School. Some not-to-be-missed festival highlights include:

Wednesday, November 3, 7:00 pm
Opening keynote address from featured author T.C. Boyle
UNLV Student Union Ballroom at 7:00 pm

Thursday, November 4, 7:00 pm
A discussion with local authors on their contributions to the Las Vegas Writes Project 2010
A collection of seven original short stories based on iconic Las Vegas photographs
Clark County Library Theater at 7:00 pm

Friday, November 5, 6:00 to 10:00 pm
A mobile poetry brigade: Night Ride with the Las Vegas Bike Bards
First Friday in the 18b Arts District from 6:00 to 10:00 pm

Saturday, November 6, all day long
Author sessions and writer’s workshops
Fifth Street School and Nevada School of the Arts Recital Hall throughout the day

Sunday, November 7, 7:00 pm
Closing keynote address from featured author Dennis Lehane
Clark County Library Theater at 7:00 pm

Most events are free and open to the public. For more information and a full schedule, visit vegasvalleybookfestival.org.

The Vegas Valley Book Festival is produced by the city of Las Vegas; Las Vegas-Clark County Library District, UNLV’s Black Mountain Institute, Las Vegas Review-Journal, the local chapter of the American Institute of Graphic Arts, the professional association for design, and Nevada Humanities, a festival founder.

Photo: Book cover: The Perpetual Engine of Hope, a collection of short stories inspired by vintage Las Vegas photographs. It will make its debut at the 2010 Vegas Valley Book Festival.