About the Gaithersburg Book Festival

The Gaithersburg Book Festival is an annual all-day celebration of books, writers and literary excellence, which is celebrating 17 years in 2026. One of the premier literary events in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, the 2026 Festival is scheduled for Saturday, May 16, at Bohrer Park at Summit Hall Farm (506 S. Frederick Ave.) in Gaithersburg, Md. Activities will include author appearances, discussions and book signings; writing workshops; a Children’s Village; onsite sales of new and used books; literary exhibitors and food, drink, ice cream and more. Admission and shuttles from Shady Grove Metro and Montgomery County Fairgrounds are FREE. The Gaithersburg Book Festival also hosts author events in Montgomery County throughout the year as a way to encourage continued appreciation for all things literary. For more information please visit www.gaithersburgbookfestival.org, follow us on X @GburgBookFest or like us on Facebook.

Free, hands-on workshops led by top educators and authors

The workshops will be held during the Festival in the Children’s Workshops Pavilion in the Children’s Village. No pre-registration is required for these free workshops.

Learn more about these children’s workshops, the presenters and the schedule, as well as additional workshops geared for adults and older teens, being held between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. on Saturday, May 16.

Odes to Favorite Things with poet Nancy Arbuthnot

Comic Character Creation with cartoonist Dave Roman

Notice, Ask, Listen: Be a Reporter to Improve Your Stories

Fantasy Worldbuilding with Writopia Lab

Nature Art and Poetry Fun with Jennifer Klein

Epistolary Writing with Writopia Lab

Art Journaling: Stories Through Words and Pictuers with Jennifer-NeToi