Book Festival, McAllen Public Library, South Texas International Book Festival, H-E-B, Reyna Grande, Literary Events, McAllen
Staff Report
McAllen TX - The McAllen Public Library has announced the South Texas International Book Festival, presented by H-E-B Helping Here, on Saturday, Oct. 24, from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Main Library, 4001 N. 23rd St. Festival Day is free and open to the public.
The event, formerly known as the South Texas Book Festival, carries a new name and an expanded international focus. This year’s theme, “Pages to Possibilities,” will be celebrated with author talks, storytimes, book giveaways, meet-and-greets, and activities.
Festival Day Authors
Nine authors are scheduled for the Oct. 24 main event: Reyna Grande, Katherine Center, Huda Fahmy, Saadia Faruqi, Varian Johnson, Ashley Robin Franklin, Chris Barton, Natalia Sylvester, and Shauna J. Grant. Sessions range from storytimes and live drawings to book talks for children, tweens, teens, and adults. Featured discussions include Grande presenting Migrant Heart and Center presenting The Shippers.
Youth Bookmark Design Contest winners will also be announced. Families can pick up copies of the winning bookmarks and books made possible through H-E-B’s Read 3 program and Literacy Texas.
October Programming
The festival’s expanded programming spans the month of October. Pet Week at the Library runs Oct. 3–9, featuring Marty the Library Cat. On Oct. 8, ticket holders can attend “An Evening with Author James Wade,” which includes admission, refreshments, and a copy of his latest novel, Narrow the Road.
Read Around Town Week, Oct. 11–16, will feature “Soñar en Grande: Lorena Ochoa Book Talk” on Oct. 14. The Mexican golf legend will discuss her memoir, Soñar en grande (Dreaming Big), covering her journey from growing up in Mexico to becoming one of the world’s most recognized professional golfers.
On Oct. 17, Maestro Ricardo Morales will lead the Guatemalan Opera Workshop & Concert, featuring a master class for select McAllen ISD music students followed by a concert showcasing regional student performers. Free tickets will be available.
Additional events include “By Design: Katie Pritchett Book Launch” on Oct. 20, a Trick or Treat Trail on Oct. 31, and the series concludes Nov. 10 with “They Hold Grudges: Diana Rojas Book Launch.”
“Becoming the STIBF reflects how much this festival has grown while staying connected to the readers, writers and families who have supported it from the beginning,” said Kate Horan, library director. “This year, we’re creating more opportunities to share stories, discover new authors and experiences, and bring our community together through the love of reading.”
“The South Texas International Book Festival represents an exciting new chapter,” said City Manager Isaac J. Tawil. “Expanding the festival internationally allows us to bring new voices, cultures, and experiences to McAllen while creating opportunities to welcome visitors and introduce them to our community.”
Ticket and registration details for select events, along with the full schedule, are available at southtexasbookfestival.com. The festival is a City of McAllen event presented by H-E-B Helping Here. A complete list of sponsors and partners is available at southtexasbookfestival.com.
Source - McAllen Public Library