This weekend, the Los Angeles Times is hosting its 23rd annual Festival of Books, the largest literary festival in America.

The weekend-long celebration of ideas, creativity and the written word will be held Saturday, April 21 and Sunday, April 22 at the University of Southern California. More than 500 authors, celebrities, musicians, artists and chefs will lead conversations, live performances and demonstrations throughout the weekend.

Laila Ali, Reza Aslan, Ed Asner, Mayim Bialik, Black Eyed Peas members will.i.am, apl.de.ap and Taboo, Roshani Chokshi, Junot Díaz, Kate DiCamillo, Dave Eggers, Jenna Fischer, Vivica A. Fox, Diana Gabaldon, Juan Felipe Herrera, Tayari Jones, Patrisse Khan-Cullors, Dennis Lehane, Moby, Janet Mock, Natalie Morales, Walter Mosley, Viet Thanh Nguyen, Joyce Carol Oates, Leslie Odom Jr., Patton Oswalt, Jorge Ramos, Rick Riordan, Maria Shriver, Jake, Jazz, Jurnee and Jussie Smollett, Nic Stone, Gabrielle Union and Lawrence Wright are scheduled to appear with more to be announced in the coming weeks.

On the eve of the festival, Friday, April 20, The Times’ 38^th annual Book Prizes will honor novelist John Rechy with the Robert Kirsch Award for lifetime achievement, Glory Edim, founder of Well-Read Black Girl, with the Innovator’s Award, and 11 outstanding literary works published last year. 

Additional Festival highlights include:

• Performances, demonstrations and Q&As on 9 outdoor stages including the LA Times Main Stage, Reading by 9 Children’s Stage, Acura Cooking Stage, Hoy Stage, YA Stage, Travel Smart Stage, USC Stage, Poetry Stage and LA Times Central
• Newstory zone: virtual reality and 360 experiences, variety shows, live improvisation, television and film screenings, conversations and other creative forms of expression 
• Dozens of expert panels on a variety of subjects ranging from politics to pop culture 
• Spanish-language programming and English to Spanish translation services available in select festival venues
• Art installations: a series of original murals curated by Branded Arts and the community Crenshaw District Hieroglyph Project from artist Lauren Halsey
• More than 200 exhibitors with books and merchandise for sale, activities and giveaways
• Musical performances, food trucks and more 

Ideal For

Bookworms

Highlights

Thought leaders, personalities and experts scheduled to appear include: Buzz Aldrin, Kwame Alexander, Reza Aslan, Lidia Bastianich, Zac Brewer, T.C. Boyle, Alexander Chee, Nate Corddry, Taye Diggs, Duff Goldman, Juan Felipe Herrera, Laila Lalami, Padma Lakshmi, Jonathan Lethem, Diana Nyad, Joyce Carol Oates, Susan Orlean, James Patterson, Anna Quindlen, Holly Robinson Peete, Luis J. Rodriguez, Jonathan & Drew Scott, Tavis Smiley, Somini Sengupta, Shaka Sengor, Sabaa Tahir, David L. Ulin, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Henry Winkler, Rainn Wilson and Nicola Yoon.