The two-day, 21st annual Los Angeles Times Festival of Books will begin today at USC, with more than 500 authors, celebrities, musicians, artists and chefs leading conversations and giving live performances and demonstrations at the nation’s largest literary festival.
The festival also includes performances, demonstrations and question and answer sessions on nine outdoor stages; more than 100 discussions on topics ranging from the presidential election to the art of the short story; live recordings of podcasts and radio shows; large-scale street art style installations; and hundreds of exhibitors with books and merchandise for sale.
Authors appearing today include Joyce Carol Oates (10:30 p.m.); Stan Lee (11 a.m.); Sen. Barbara Boxer, D-California (1 p.m.); Marcia Clark (1 p.m.); Padma Lakshmi (1:20 p.m.); Roy Blount Jr. (2:30 p.m.); Rainn Wilson (2:30 p.m.); Buzz Aldrin (3:40 p.m.); T.C. Boyle (4 p.m.); Aya Cash (4 p.m.); Jonathan Gold (4 p.m.); and Diana Nyad (4 p.m.)
Authors appearing Sunday include Henry Winkler (10 a.m.); Susan Orlean (10:30 a.m.); Holly Robinson Peete (11 a.m.); Tom Hayden (11:30 a.m.); Anna Quindlen (noon); Charlotte Rae (1:20 p.m.); Jonathan Gold (1:30 p.m.); Tavis Smiley (2:30 p.m.); and Kimberly Williams-Paisley (3:40 p.m.);
Sunday’s schedule also includes the Ideas Exchange speakers series, which is “designed to put insightful minds together in inspiring conversation,” according to organizers.
Author, actress and musician Carrie Brownstein will discuss her recent memoir “Hunger Makes Me a Modern Girl” with Lorraine Ali, a senior writer with the Los Angeles Times Calendar section, at 11 a.m.
Arianna Huffington, the president and editor-in-chief of The Huffington Post, will discuss her latest book, “The Sleep Revolution” with Los Angeles Times columnist Robin Abcarian at 3 p.m.
Separate tickets are required for both Ideas Exchange sessions.
The festival will be open from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. today and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free. Tickets are not required for outdoor programming. Indoor conversations require free tickets, with a limited number of tickets distributed at the festival ticketing booth. The booth will open at 9 a.m. today and Sunday.
Parking is available for $12 at various USC lots, and $20 today and $15 Sunday in Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Lots 1 and 2. Free shuttle service is provided from the USC Parking Center at 35th Street and Grand Avenue and Coliseum Lot 2.
Because of the Azusa Now religious gathering at the Coliseum from 7 a.m.- 10:30 p.m. today, Festival of Books organizers are encouraging festival-goers to use public transportation.
People taking Metro to the festival will receive a 10 percent discount on merchandise, including mugs and T-shirts.
More information on the festival at latimes.com/festivalofbooks.
