Open Book: A Festival for Readers returns Nov. 8

Readers and writers, rejoice! Open Book: A Festival for Readers returns noon-5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 8 at the Ferndale Events Center, 5715 Barrett Road, Ferndale. Generously sponsored by Whatcom County Library Foundation and enthusiastically presented by Whatcom County Library System and Village Books and Paper Dreams, Open Book celebrates readers, writers and bookish enthusiasm with wonderful and whimsical hands-on book-related experiences at more than 20 booths and stages. The event is free and open to all ages. 

Open Book festivals in 2023 and 2024 drew more than 800 book lovers to the Ferndale Events Center. Open Book took a break in 2025. 

This year, experiences will include main stage presentations by best-selling authors Donna Barba Higuera and Emma Pattee. Higuera writes middle grade and picture books, including The Last Cuentista, The Unlikely Adventures of Ramón and El Cucuy, and Lupe Wong Won’t Dance. Her books have won numerous awards, including the Newbery medal and the Washington State Book Award. Pattee, the author of the bestselling novel Tilt, is a climate journalist and fiction writer. She has written for The Atlantic, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian and more.

Other main stage events include the presentation of Golden Apple Awards to four outstanding local educators, poetry readings by the Salish Sea Poetry Festival and the final round of WCLS’s first-ever speed puzzling contest. 

Beyond the main stage, guests can try out library services in fun and delightful interactive experiences; visit local author booths; buy books, comic books, and bookish swag and crafts; and discover what’s new with community partners in the local literary community. “We know from past years that there is something for everyone at Open Book,” says WCLS Executive Director Christine Perkins. “We love hosting this event because it truly brings smiles to people of all ages, and it connects our neighbors to library services and community partners in fun and unexpected ways.”

For more information, visit wcls.org/openbook.