Tucson Festival of Books Special Events

Don’t Miss This Special Event with Author Philip Gefter at The Loft Cinema

Join us on February 21 at 6 p.m. to meet award-winning author Philip Gefter who will introduce his hot-off-the-press book, “Cocktails with George and Martha: Movies, Marriage, and the Making of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” Enjoy an author reception and stay for a screening of “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” winner of five Oscars and starring Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. Purchase your tickets here.

Help the Festival Present Inaugural Children’s Scavenger Hunt

In 2024, the Tucson Festival of Books presents its inaugural free children’s scavenger hunt. Kids ages preschool to fifth grade can participate in the hunt through Science City and the Children’s Area to win fun prizes.

Would you be willing to donate items to give as prizes? Any logo or non-logo items, gift cards, non-melting candy, books, trinkets or small gift bags would be appreciated. Cash donations from $5 to $20 are also welcome. Find full details here. 

Sponsor Spotlight: Arizona Daily Star

Thank you to one of our presenting and founding sponsors, the Arizona Daily Star. The Arizona Daily Star has Southern Arizona covered with the Arizona Daily Star daily newspaper, Tucson.com, Wildcaster, #ThisIsTucson and Caliente. Stop by the Star’s tent near Old Main for a great lineup of authors and equally as great festival merchandise. You’ll find festival coffee mugs, book bags and t-shirts, including the kids’ ones with the exclusive baby mascot, as well as books, of course. And who knows who you’ll run into from the Star. Watch for the Arizona Daily Star’s exclusive guide to the 2024 festival that will be included in the Star’s print and e-editions on Sunday, March 3, 2024.

Author Spotlight: Cherie Dimaline

We are excited to welcome award-winning young adult author Cherie Dimaline to the 2024 festival. Dimaline’s 2017 book, “The Marrow Thieves,” won the Governor General’s Award and the prestigious Kirkus Prize for Young Readers, was a finalist for the White Pine Award and was named by TIME magazine as one of the best young adult books of all time. Her new novel is “Into the Bright Open,” a re-telling of “The Secret Garden.”

She will present on Saturday, March 9 at 11:30 a.m. on the YA Author Stage and on Sunday, March 10 at 1 p.m. in Education Room 353 speaking about resilience and Indigenous stories told by Indigenous voices.