About
Each year thousands of people converge on the annual South Dakota Festival of Books, a weekend-long event that features more than 40 well-known authors participating in book signings, presentations, panel discussions and readings. Author presentations are separated into six tracks: fiction, non-fiction, poetry, children’s/youth, history/tribal, and writer’s support.
Over the course of six festivals, many distinguished authors and cultural figures have attended, such as Marilynne Robinson, Ted Kooser, Sonia Monzano, Annie Proulx, Quincy Troupe, Susan Power, Louise Erdrich, Pete Dexter, and Ivan Doig; NPR hosts Carl Kassel, Neal Conan, and Juan Williams; and publishing industry representatives including Judy Hottensen, John Glusman, and Paul Cirone.
Thank you sponsors!
Thanks to the dedicated support of several organizations, the vast majority of events at the festival are free and open to the public.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Do I need to register in advance to attend the Festival of Books?
A: No! We like surprises. So just bring yourself, a pair of comfortable shoes, and your family and/or friends.
Q: Is the Festival outside?
A: Not really. You may spend time walking outside in between events but the majority of time will be spent in comfortable, air-conditioned buildings. Sunday's event at Tatanka will be outside if weather permits.
Q: What is Festival Central?
A: Festival Central refers to the Deadwood Pavilion/Chamber of Commerce which houses dozens of organizations and authors exhibiting at the Festival. You will also find booksellers, concessions, and mass book signings at Festival Central. This space was formerly known as "Exhibitor's Hall."
Q: Is the Festival of Books really FREE!?
A: Yes! Thanks to the generous support of our sponsors the majority of events at the Festival of Books are free.
Workshops and events that feature food or music require tickets. All in all, five events out of more than 50 at the Festival of Books require tickets. You can find out how to order tickets here.
Q: Should I be worried about gunslinging?
A: Yes. Be alert and be prepared. This is the Wild West, after all.
Ok, we're just kidding about that. By modern standards Deadwood is a very safe city. Shootouts do not occur in the streets. This kind of stuff stopped happening around 1997. (Also a joke)
Q: How can I support the Festival of Books?
A: You can support the Festival of Books in two important ways: By volunteering or by donating.
Q: Will books be sold at the Festival?
A: Yes. Two booksellers, Borders and Prairie Edge, will be selling books for all of the authors at the Festival of Books. Additionally, authors who are exhibiting will sell their books. All book sales are located in Festival Central.
Q: Is the Festival an all-ages event? Is it kid-friendly?
A: While the majority of events are geared for teenagers to adults, several events are specifically for children. A must see for children is the DinoStories exhibit put on by HOP (Hands-On Partnership). Also, don't miss out on Prairie Tales Storytime at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday. Both events are held at the Deadwood-Lead Elementary School Gym.
Q: What if I have a question that's not listed here?
A: You can e-mail us at info@sdhumanities.org