Hotels near Southern Festival of Books

The Southern Festival of Books is one of the oldest literary festivals in the United States, and it usually takes place over a weekend in mid-October. Presented by Humanities Tennessee with Vanderbilt University, it spreads across Bicentennial Mall, the Tennessee State Museum and the Tennessee State Library and Archives, with more than 175 authors on panels, readings and signings.

Admission is free for all ages. Hours run from 09:00 to 18:00 on Saturday and 10:00 to 17:00 on Sunday, with three performance stages, publishers' stalls, food trucks and a children's area. The Tennessee State Museum, which hosts many of the sessions, is free year-round and covers the state's story from prehistory to the present day, so it is easy to fill a whole day here.

Pro Tip: Check the schedule a week ahead and pick two or three panels, as popular sessions fill rooms quickly. Break for lunch at the Nashville Farmers' Market right next to Bicentennial Mall.