Six Bridges Book Festival

Book lovers, this is your moment. The Six Bridges Book Festival is back this fall as the Central Arkansas Library System (CALS) brings Little Rock to life with authors, conversations, and a citywide celebration of reading.

event details

September 28 - October 5, 2025

Named for the six bridges that connect Little Rock and North Little Rock, the Six Bridges Book Festival reflects its namesake by building connections of its own, uniting authors, readers, and communities through the power of story.

The festival celebrates words in all their forms, from reading and literacy to storytelling and craft. Each year, highly recognized authors bring their voices to Little Rock, leading panels on everything from cooking demonstrations to award-winning comedy. The event also reaches into the community through Writers in the Schools (WITS), a program that introduces hundreds of Central Arkansas students to the joy of writing.

Since its inception, the Six Bridges Book Festival has served as an important showcase for both nationally and internationally acclaimed authors, as well as talented writers from right here in The Natural State.

A person speaking on CALS Ron Robinson Theater stage with a crowd listening below them at the Six Bridges Book Festival.

This year’s Six Bridges Book Festival features an outstanding lineup, including novelist Jennifer Haigh, cultural historian A’Lelia Bundles, and award-winning writer Dr. Eve L. Ewing. Arkansas is also well represented by notable authors Kevin Brockmeier, Eli Cranor, and rising voice Viktoria Capek.

What to expect:

As always, nearly all of the festival remains free to the public. This year, the Central Arkansas Library System (CALS) is thrilled to welcome Shelby Van Pelt, author of Remarkably Bright Creatures, on Sunday, October 5.

The festival begins on Sunday, September 28, and continues with a week of events leading up to the Kickoff Party in the newly reopened library on Friday, October 3. Festival sessions will follow on Sunday, October 4, with additional programs throughout the weekend.

Two cherished traditions also return. Writers in the Schools (WITS) connects nationally recognized authors with Central Arkansas students, while Little Readers Rock, presented with the Junior League of Little Rock, brings illustrators Shannon Wright and Maria Hoskins together with crafts, snacks, and games for families.

A crowd listening in awe to a book author speak at the Six Bridges Book Festival inside Ron Robinson Theater.

LEARN MORE

For more information and the latest festival details, visit cals.org. To volunteer at the Festival, contact Polly Deems at pdeems@cals.org.

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