The Louisiana Book Festival returns to downtown Baton Rouge from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31, with free admission, more than 200 authors and presenters, and programs spread across the State Library, Capitol Park Museum and surrounding grounds.
The State Library of Louisiana program announcement says the schedule covers more than 20 subject areas. The official visitor information page adds parking, accessibility and information-center details that matter before a trip downtown.
Louisiana Book Festival visit planner
| Planning point | Verified detail |
|---|---|
| Date and hours | Saturday, Oct. 31, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. |
| Admission | Free |
| Main area | State Library, Capitol Park Museum and nearby downtown grounds |
| Parking | Street spaces, nearby lots and the Galvez Parking Garage |
| Information centers | N. Fourth/North streets, Spanish Town Road/N. Fourth Street and the State Capitol breezeway |
| Food | Vendors are scheduled on the festival grounds |
The festival’s individual author pages and at-a-glance schedule remain the best sources for exact session times. With hundreds of presenters, a useful plan starts by choosing two or three priority programs and leaving travel time between buildings or tents.
Family and poetry programs have fixed times
The young readers announcement lists a children’s Halloween costume contest at 1 p.m. and a teen contest at 3 p.m. It also schedules the Books and Music program at 3:15 p.m., alongside author appearances, crafts, games and returning storybook characters.
Poetry programming runs through the day under the West Tent outside the Capitol Park Museum, according to the State Library’s poetry preview. Those fixed locations and times offer anchors for families or groups trying to combine different interests.
The Daily Quill’s Culture and Entertainment desk covers other regional events, while Community and Public Services tracks access details for public programs.
Parking and accessibility details
The official site says the Galvez Parking Garage will be available in addition to street and nearby lot parking. It does not promise that every space will remain open all day, so arrival time should account for walking and downtown traffic.
Wheelchair-accessible parking is listed in the State Library’s south lot, entered from North Third Street, and in designated spaces southeast of the Capitol. Information centers can arrange limited first-come, first-served onsite transportation and requested interpretation. Visitors with advance accessibility questions can call 225-219-9503.
Schedules and participants can change. Before leaving, check the official at-a-glance schedule and cancellations page, then save the sessions and locations that matter most. The next key time is 9 a.m. Saturday, when the free festival opens.
