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Books in Bloom Headliners Announced: Chasten Buttigieg and Nikki Giovanni
Books in Bloom returns to Merriweather District on May 13th. This free event runs from 10 am to 5 pm in Color Burst Park and the full line-up and information can be found here. Books in Bloom is an interactive day of family fun and meaningful dialogue.
Chasten Buttigieg and Nikki Giovanni headline the seventh edition of Books in Bloom, Columbia’s literary festival. Through their works, both headliners highlight this year’s theme of “Building Community – Through Empathy and Understanding Each Other”.
Giovani is an acclaimed poet and influential member of the Black Arts Movement, and most recently wrote a picture book called “A Library” about the magic of public libraries. She’ll read selections of here work and discuss both children’s literature and social issues.
Buttigieg is a teacher and husband of Secretary of Transportation, Pete Buttigieg. He will soon release a young-adult adaptation of his 2020 memoir, “I Have Something To Tell You.” He will discuss the experience of growing up gay in a small Midwestern town.
Books in Bloom is a progressive literary festival and will feature more than a dozen authors who’ve written everything from murder mystery trilogies to a history of misogyny against women in power.
Main Stage
10:15AM – Banned Books Panel featuring representatives from Busboys & Poets, Howard County Library System and Howard County Public School System, moderated by Howard County Council Member Christiana Rigby
11:30AM – Manuel Betancourt and Kevin Naff
12:45PM – Nikki Giovanni
2:00PM – Chasten Buttigieg
3:15PM – Eric Klinenberg, featuring a discussion regarding libraries and community centers with a panel that includes Nikki Giovanni and Stuart Wood of Heatherwick Studio
4:30PM – Poetry and Readings from HCPSS Rainbow Vision Literary Magazine
Azlon Plaza (Young Adult) Stage
10:00AM – Poetry and Readings from HCPSS Rainbow Vision Literary Magazine
10:30AM – Ryan La Sala
11:45AM – Emily Barth Isler
1:00PM – Aiden Thomas
3:00PM – Sarah Cypher
4:00PM – Tae Keller
Marlow Stage
10:30AM – Efrén C. Olivares
11:45AM – Eleanor Herman in conversation with representatives from Columbia Association
1:00PM – Chrissy King
3:00PM – Rafael Alvarez
4:00PM – Maureen Johnson
Howard County Library Activation Station
11:30AM – Get Involved Fair
3:00PM – Get Involved Community Forum
Click here to reserve your spot.
In addition to Books in Bloom, enjoy all that Columbia has to offer in the month of May. Wine in the Woods, an annual wine festival and Howard County gem, is happening on May 20 – 21 in Symphony Woods. See our event calendar for more information!