Scenes from the 2025 NH Book Festival
Books, books, books! (Plus authors, dragons, a clown, and more)
Nearly 5,000 book lovers of all ages flocked to downtown Concord this month for the second annual New Hampshire Book Festival, transforming the south end of Main Street into a vibrant, community-wide celebration of literature. The two-day event, held October 3-4, featured over 50 nationally recognized authors and poets, book-themed activities, local food, and featured book-related activities, local food, and representation from nearly 20 nonprofits and festival sponsors.
Children’s keynote author Tui Sutherland mesmerizes
On Friday morning, October 3, children’s keynote Tui Sutherland, author of the wildly popular “Wings of Fire” and “Menagerie” series, mesmerized an audience of 1,200 children, many of whom had traveled to the Capitol Center for the Arts (CCA) in bus transportation supported by the Judge Family Foundation. After an energetic hour-long presentation, with the audience hanging on every word from their cherished author, each child left with a copy of Sutherland’s latest book, Wings of Fire Special Edition:The Dragonet Prophecy, also underwritten by the Judge Family Foundation.
Walter Mosley and Hank Phillippi Ryan—a wide-ranging conversation
The opening keynote speaker on Friday evening was mystery writer Walter Mosley, in conversation with Hank Phillippi Ryan, an investigative journalist and author of 16 mystery novels. Their wide-ranging discussion touched on Mosley’s long career, including 60 works of fiction, nonfiction, memoir and playwriting. The evening concluded with a lively Q&A, and a book signing with both Mosley and Ryan.
Lollipop the Clown leads a children’s parade
Saturday morning, October 4, brought sunshine and unseasonably warm temperatures, and the full day of activities kicked off with Lollipop the Clown, who led a parade of children, dressed as their favorite book characters, down the center of South Main Street. Amid giant bubbles that magically appeared from Lollipop’s umbrella, the spirited participants kept time with kazoos, before being gifted balloon dragons, crafted by the multi-talented clown.
Saturday: A full day of author panels, conversations, readings, and more
Next it was on to the author panels and readings, 20 in all, in a jam-packed schedule which ran from 9:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Topics included: “Thrills and Chills,” “Unexpected Journeys,” “A Caldecott Spotlight,” and three poetry readings. Audiences filled the Governor’s Hall and Kimball House in the CCA, and the KidLit tent on the street, to hear from writers, all of whom had published new works in the past six months. Afterwards, participants could purchase books from festival partner Gibson’s Bookstore, then meet with authors in the book-signing tent.
After the family keynote, Tui Sutherland signs books until midnight
The NHBF concluded with a sight not often seen in Concord–over 1,000 fans (young and old) formed a line that stretched for over two blocks as they waited for the doors to open to the CCA for a Tui Sutherland, Wings of Fire, FanNite event. Many in the crowd were bedecked in fairy wings, dragon suits, and sparkling make-up. The energy was so high, that when the doors opened, the assembled crowd let out an echoing scream that bounced off the walls of the surrounding buildings. Sutherland did not disappoint, in fact after her presentation, she stayed until nearly midnight, signing hundreds of books, and listening to every breathless story from her young admirers.
An all-volunteer effort
The second annual New Hampshire Book festival was a rousing success on every level, with pitch-perfect weather that encouraged attendees to linger for hours on the tent-filled streets to share stories, peruse books, engage with local nonprofits and vendors, and immerse themselves in the warmth of community spirit. The entire event, from start to finish, was an all-volunteer effort, from the festival’s board of directors, and over 90 volunteers, with the support of an amazing group of supporters. Mark your calendars now for the 2026 event, which will take place October 2-3!