Little Blue Pigeon Books will host its first Blue Book Festival at Larimer Square on Saturday, October 10, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. The free event aims to celebrate local literary talent and features more than 30 Colorado authors participating in book signings, meet-and-greets, children's crafts, and various literary activities. Two ticketed author conversations will occur at Apollo Hall nearby.
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Paige Dungan, the owner and founder of Little Blue Pigeon Books, expressed her vision for the festival, saying, “The Blue Book Festival is our way of giving back. It’s a day built for Denver readers, by Denver readers, celebrating the authors, neighbors, and families who make this city such a wonderful place to love books.” Dungan, a veteran book publicist, believes Denver has long deserved a festival that highlights local authors and engages the community.
The festival will feature hands-on activities, including journal-making, allowing families to engage in literary exploration together. Attendees can drop in for varying lengths of time, catering to young children's needs and nap schedules. Dungan hopes the event will foster a sense of community among families, encouraging children to express their aspirations of becoming authors.
Two ticketed author conversations will feature notable speakers: Alexis Nikole Nelson, a James Beard Award-winning author known as @blackforager, will discuss her new book, "Happy Snacking, Don’t Die," from 1-2:30 p.m. Later, bestselling author Jenny Lawson, creator of the blog The Bloggess, will hold a conversation moderated by Tory Shulman from 9NEWS, from 3:30-5 p.m. Lawson’s writing is celebrated for its candidness and humor.
Dungan aims for the festival to be a delightful experience for families, enabling children to connect with authors and discover new books. Four independent bookstores—Little Blue Pigeon, Denver Book Society, The Shop at MATTER, and West Side Books—will showcase curated selections, adding to the chances for visitors to find new favorite reads.
Families are encouraged to visit Little Blue Pigeon Books throughout the year for ongoing community events like story times and book clubs. Additionally, the store's Book Forward program donates a book to local nonprofits for every five books purchased. Dungan looks forward to welcoming families and inspiring a love of reading among children.