This October, the Harrisburg Book Festival returns for its 13th year. Presented by the Midtown Scholar Bookstore and Community Reads from October 15th-19th, the Harrisburg Book Festival celebrates the power of literature and its ability to unite, delight, and inspire. Featuring an outdoor tent sale, children’s day programming, and headlining appearances from Nick Offerman and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, the Harrisburg Book Festival promotes a culture of reading and community in the heart of Pennsylvania’s state capital — all while surrounded by thousands of books at one of the nation’s leading independent bookstores. 

Date: Wednesday, October 15th - Sunday, October 19th, 2025 

Location: Midtown Scholar Bookstore | 1302 N 3rd St Harrisburg, PA 17102 Details: www.hbgbookfest.com 

AUTHOR APPEARANCES 

This year’s festival boasts a star-studded lineup of world-renowned authors, including: 

Actor and Comedian Nick Offerman (Little Woodchucks)

Internationally Renowned Novelist Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie (Dream Count)

NYT Bestselling Fantasy Author Marie Lu (Red City)

NYT Bestselling Fantasy Author Carissa Broadbent (Daughter of No Worlds)

Award-Winning Middle-Grade Author, John Patrick Green (Investigators)

Bestselling Historian, Jeffrey Rosen (The Pursuit of Liberty)

OUTDOOR TENT SALE 

The Outdoor Tent Sale will take place on Verbeke Street from 3rd St to Susquehanna St from Wednesday, October 15th - Sunday, October 19th. The sale will feature over 30,000+ used books at bargain prices across all genres. 

CHILDREN’S DAY

Children’s Day will take place on Saturday, October 18th from 10am-1pm. Activities include story time, face painting, build-a-bookmark craft, book signings, illustrations demos, meet & greet with Rascal the Mascot, and a bookstore scavenger hunt with prizes. Featured authors include Erin Frankel, John Patrick Green, and Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow. 

SPONSORS 

The Harrisburg Book Festival would not be possible without the support from our community of businesses, universities, and media partners. Across Pennsylvania, these organizations have demonstrated their commitment to, and support of, reading and the literary arts. Over twenty community businesses, universities, and media partners have come on-board to sponsor the festival, including: 

Community Reads

Messiah University School of Arts, Culture, and Society

Carpe Librum

Mid Penn Bank

Penn State Harrisburg

National Constitution Center

Tröegs Independent Brewing

Millersville University Department of Humanities and Social Sciences

Thought Catalog

AAUW Harrisburg

Susquehanna University Department of English & Creative Writing

Harrisburg Academy

Fernecrest

Explore HBG

Harrisburg Chamber & CREDC

Bucknell University Press

Dickinson College Department of English & Creative Writing

Lebanon Valley College Department of English

Fox Pest Control

WITF

Spotlight PA

The Millworks