Readers and writers, rejoice! Open Book: A Festival for Readers returns noon-5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 3 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 weird and wonderful hands-on book-related experiences at more than 20 booths and stages.
The first Open Book Festival in 2023 drew more than 800 book lovers to the Ferndale Events Center. “As they were leaving last year’s event, people were asking if we’d please host Open Book again,” says Whatcom County Library System Adult Programming Coordinator Claire McElroy. “The response was amazing. And we had a great time, too! We started planning right away and are excited to welcome people back to year two.”
This year, experiences will include a main stage appearance by author Janie Chang, a Canadian bestselling author of historical fiction. Chang will present "Inspiration, Research and Serendipity" with a special focus on her bestselling book Library of Legends. Inspired by family stories and tales of ancestors who encountered dragons, ghosts and immortals, her novels also include The Porcelain Moon, Dragon Springs Road, Three Souls and The Phoenix Crown (co-authored with Kate Quinn). The Toronto Star calls Chang “one of the most original voices in Canadian historical fiction.”
Check the Open Book webpage for updates, wcls.org/openbook. The full schedule of events will be posted in October. For now, save the date and get ready for the return of a book lover’s dream day.
About WCLS: Whatcom County Library System (WCLS) serves Whatcom County residents outside the city limits of Bellingham through online resources (wcls.org) and at 10 branches: Blaine, Deming, Everson, Ferndale, Island (Lummi Island), Lynden, North Fork (Kendall), Point Roberts, South Whatcom (Sudden Valley) and Sumas. WCLS also has a bookmobile (serving Glenhaven, Birch Bay, Wickersham and Lake Samish) and a Library Express on Northwest Drive. The Birch Bay Vogt Library Express is in development. Apply for a free library card at any location or online at wcls.org/getacard.
