In-person events and livestreamed conversations to help bring stories to life
Published: October 28, 2021
By: Jennifer Jhon
An amazing thing happened when the world shut down in 2020 because of COVID-19: The Internet opened the world back up through a wealth of online cultural events, including the annual Miami Book Fair presented by Miami Dade College.
This year, the Miami Book Fair is embracing the best of both worlds, keeping its virtual offerings while hosting a week of live events Nov. 14-21 that are designed to bring books to people of all ages.
The 2021 fair will host authors from all over the world and across genres both in person and virtually. They will read from their books in multiple languages, answer questions from audience members and sign autographs during the live and livestreamed events.
The weekend Street Fair and the ever-popular Children’s Alley are also back, on a slightly smaller scale, on the Miami Dade College Wolfson Campus.
“Miami Book Fair is a community event at its heart, it’s a cultural hub in Miami to celebrate literature, no matter what age,” said event Program Manager, Nicole Swift.
In a year with few children’s authors touring, the Children’s Alley is more important than ever, she said. “It’s a place to come hang out together and experience some form of storytelling, even if we don’t have authors here.”
With an Amazonian Rainforest theme, the Children’s Alley helps foster a love of reading in children with three activity centers: Learn, Create and Participate.
“It’s a place for families to meet, to learn together, and to participate in activities together,” Swift said.
The Children’s Alley, which is open Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 20-21, will also feature reading nooks for young readers to enjoy the books they discover at the fair.
Although many Miami Book Fair activities are drop-in events, some of the scheduled programs require an RSVP, which can be made at http://www.miamibookfair.com.
The street fair — featuring over 100 vendors, a farmers’ market and an artisans’ place — is free on Friday, and $10 per day for adults on Saturday and Sunday. Tickets for ages 13-18 and those over 62 is $5, and free for 12 and under.
Even for free events and admissions, tickets are required and can be reserved on the website, which offers a discount on single-day and two-day tickets.
Get more information and RSVP at www.miamibookfair.com.
