The Printers Row Lit Fest is back this year, as the annual free showcase of booksellers, author events, spoken word performances, writing workshops and more now is scheduled to take place Sept. 11-12 in the South Loop.
This year’s festival returns following the postponement of the 2020 iteration due to state and city COVID-19 festival/large gathering restrictions.
Headlining the festival will be bestselling author and National Book Award winner Ta-Nehisi Coates (“The Beautiful Struggle,” “We Were Eight Years in Power,” “The Water Dancer,” “Between the World and Me”), who will be honored with the 2021 Harold Washington Literary Award, which recognizes diverse authors “who address issues of contemporary life and whose literary achievements include a significant body of work that has touched the public mind and imagination.” The gala award ceremony (a ticketed event) will be held Sept. 10 as the official kickoff to the festival. More information will be made available in the coming months at thenspb.org.
The Printers Row Lit Fest, celebrating its 36th year, remains the largest free outdoor literary showcase in the Midwest. All programs featured at the outdoor festival are free and take place along Dearborn Street from Polk Street north to Ida B. Wells Drive.
For more information, visit printersrowlitfest.org.
