Las Vegas Book Festival Returns Oct. 18 to Celebrate Words

By Debbie Hall

The Las Vegas Book Festival (LVBF) returns to the Historic Fifth Street School, 401 S. 4th St., in downtown Las Vegas from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18. 

For over 20 years, LVBF has stood as Nevada’s largest literary event—a joyous, free festival where reading, writing, storytelling, and community converge.

Headliners to Watch — and What They’re Saying

This year’s headliners bring star power and fresh perspectives:

• Taylor Jenkins Reid, the New York Times bestselling author of Daisy Jones & the Six, The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Carrie Soto Is Back, and her latest Atmosphere, will deliver a keynote conversation moderated by local host JJ Snyder.

“I’ve always been drawn to stories that explore love and ambition in all their messiness,” Reid says. “In Atmosphere, I wanted to push myself into new territory — and I hope readers see a reflection of their own dreams and doubts in Joan Goodwin.”

• The festival’s political and cultural panels will include Katherine Stewart and Tim Alberta, whose discussion “Is Separation of Church and State Over?” will be moderated by local political analyst Steve Sebelius.

Stewart, author of Money, Lies, and God, notes: “We live in a moment when belief and policy are tangled in new ways — my hope is this conversation is not simply retrospective, but a call to reexamine how faith and governance interact.”

• Former U.S. Senator Richard Bryan and Former Nevada Governor Bob Miller will join historian Geoff Schumacher on the “Destined to Lead: Nevada Political Icons” panel, offering reflections on state history and civic identity.

Miller, in a past interview about Nevada’s political evolution, remarked: “Where you grow up matters — how we governed, and how we include voices, has always shaped this state.”

• Romance fans won’t want to miss the Meant To Be authors panel — featuring Christina Lauren, Zoraida Córdova, Jasmine Guillory, Julie Murphy, and a virtual appearance by Jesse Q. Sutanto — in their first joint discussion.

Guillory says: “Writing romance isn’t just about happy endings — it’s about hope, identity, and the small moments that change someone’s heart.”

Must-Attend Panels & Highlights

Here’s a sneak peek at some standout sessions:

Time	Panel / Event	Why It’s a Highlight
10:30 a.m.	“Destined to Lead: Nevada Political Icons”	Local voices + statewide history in conversation.
12:15 p.m.	Meant To Be Authors Roundtable	Rom-com authors unite (with a virtual guest).
2:00 p.m.	“Is Separation of Church and State Over?”	A timely debate led by Stewart & Alberta.
3:30 p.m.	Taylor Jenkins Reid in Conversation	Don’t miss the bestselling author share insights.

Other festival features include the Spark! Youth Poetry Competition (1–3 p.m.) for high school students, open-mic poetry in the Poetry Pavilion, and a full-day bazaar of book vendors and author signings.

Planning Tips for the Day

• Most key panels are in the Historic Fifth Street School auditorium, so arrive early to secure good seating.

• Don’t forget: many sessions run concurrently. Review the schedule ahead of time to map your day.

• Parking options include the Third Street/Lewis Avenue garage ($5 flat rate) and the Main Street/Clark garage ($3). A free Downtown Loop bus runs between the Main Street garage and the festival.

• Bring a tote or bag — you’ll want to haul books, swag, and workshop notes.

Whether you attend for big-name authors, politically charged conversations, a love of romance, or youthful creativity, the 2025 Las Vegas Book Festival promises something for every kind of reader. Can’t wait to see you there.

The Las Vegas Book Festival is presented by the city of Las Vegas, with support from media sponsors KTNV-TV 13, AudacyLV, the Las Vegas Review-Journal, gold sponsor NV Energy, and silver sponsors Nevada Public Radio and The Plaza Hotel & Casino. The festival also includes support from Nevada Humanities, the Las Vegas-Clark County Library District and Clark County Parks & Recreation. For full schedule, author lineups, and more, visit lasvegasbookfestival.com.