A celebration of literature and community, the two-day festival with over 100 exhibitors and more than 70 author presentations takes place in the Printers Row Historic District. On five city blocks of downtown Chicago, cars are replaced with tents and tables, indoor and outdoor stages, a children’s storybook parade, and free admission and programs for all ages. 

Streets will be lined with exhibitor tents featuring booksellers, indie presses, local publishing houses, individual independent authors and artists, literary organizations and others with ties to books. Readers will find a variety of genres including children’s works, romance, politics, and more. 

Longtime Chicago-based independent businesses Sandmeyer’s Bookstore and The Book Cellar are the official booksellers for PRLF programming and will be selling the most recent works of authors who will be featured on the festival’s stages.