Richland Library will present a free, three-day book festival on March 28 – 30, 2025. The Read Freely Fest will feature 50 authors and presenters, vendors, activities for youth, and other entertainment. Headliners include Mike Curato, DéLana Dameron, Patti Callahan Henry, Abbott Kahler, and Brendan Slocumb. SC Humanities supported this program with a Major Grant.
Read Freely Fest is South Carolina’s newest book festival. Attendees will have the chance to meet favorite authors, discover new reads, and connect with readers and writers offering enlightening perspectives. The event will take place at the Main Branch of Richland Library, located at 1431 Assembly Street, Columbia, SC 29201.
The full schedule is now available on the festival website at: https://www.readfreelyfest.com/. In addition to presentations by the headliners, there are numerous themed panel presentations and discussions to enjoy, including topics like “What’s Love Got To Do With It,” “Thrills and Chills,” and “Coming of Age.” The mantra for the festival is where stories find good company.
The Project Director Lee Snelgrove said, “Literature animates people. By sharing experiences through the eyes of well-developed fictional character, readers can understand those experiences better and even learn more about themselves.”
Awarded the National Medal in 2017 by the Institute of Museum and Library Services, Richland Library is a vibrant, contemporary organization that provides resources and information that advance the Midlands. Their mission is to “help our customers learn, create and share.” https://www.richlandlibrary.com/
The mission of SC Humanities is to enrich the cultural and intellectual lives of all South Carolinians. Established in 1973, this 501(c)3 organization is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors comprised of community leaders from throughout the state. It presents and supports literary initiatives, lectures, exhibits, festivals, publications, oral history projects, videos, and other humanities-based experiences that directly or indirectly reach more than 250,000 citizens annually. South Carolina Humanities receives funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities as well as corporate, foundation and individual donors. The National Endowment for the Humanities: Democracy demands wisdom.
