Salem Literary Festival 2025: Your Guide to Five Days of Literary Magic

Mark your calendars! The Salem Literary Festival 2025 transforms historic Salem into a literary wonderland from September 3-7. This beloved annual celebration brings together acclaimed authors, emerging writers, and book lovers for five extraordinary days. Best of all, the entire festival remains free to attend, making world-class literary programming accessible to everyone.

Salem Literary Festival 2025 Opening Night Features Allegra Goodman

The festival kicks off Wednesday, September 3, at 7:00 p.m. with acclaimed author Allegra Goodman. The North Shore CDC on Lafayette Street hosts this exciting opening event. Goodman presents her latest work, “Isola,” setting the perfect tone for the days ahead.

Thursday brings a special online-only event. Bestselling author Lev Grossman discusses “The Bright Sword: A Novel of King Arthur” at 7:00 p.m. Readers everywhere can join this intimate fireside chat. The conversation explores how legends adapt to modern times.

Diverse Programming Throughout Salem Literary Festival 2025

Friday’s schedule features the return of “Enduring Hawthorne: Ekphrastic Writing.” This unique open mic runs from 6:00-8:00 p.m. Local musician Dan Blakeslee performs Hawthorne’s “The Gray Champion” as a folksong. Artist Ben Wickey accompanies with an original crankie performance.

Saturday becomes the festival’s busiest day. First, families gather at the Community Life Center for the Children’s Lit Fest. Story time begins at 10:00 a.m., featuring three talented children’s authors. Samara Cole Doyon reads from “Next Level.” Kalee Gwarjanski shares “Miss MacDonald Has a Farm.” Nicole Wong showcases illustrations from “The Beat of the Dragon Boat.”

Adult programming fills Ames Hall throughout Saturday. The day starts with “Micro Marvels” at 10:00 a.m. Writers from Molecule and Five Minutes journals share tiny literary masterpieces. Each piece contains 50-100 words maximum.

Culinary Authors and Fiction Writers Take Center Stage

Next, cookbook enthusiasts shouldn’t miss “Cooking the Books” at 11:30 a.m. Adam Kowit from America’s Test Kitchen moderates this delicious discussion. Three cookbook authors share their creative journeys. Maggie Mulvena Pearson presents “The Feast & Fettle Cookbook.” Dan Pashman discusses “Anything’s Pastable.” Tammy Donroe Inman explores “New England Brunch.”

Afternoon sessions explore relationships and history. “Conflict, Camaraderie, & Comedy” examines mother-daughter dynamics at 1:00 p.m. Three contemporary fiction authors share their perspectives. Barbara Davis, Marilyn Simon Rothstein, and Domenica Ruta offer diverse viewpoints.

“Top Secret: Mid-century Historical Fiction” captivates history lovers at 2:30 p.m. Juliette Fay discusses “The Harvey Girls.” Jane Healey presents “The Women of Arlington Hall.” Galina Vromen shares “Hill of Secrets.”

Young Adult Romance and Fantasy Sessions

Young adult readers enjoy special evening programming. Cinema Salem hosts “Get Swoony in Salem with YA Romance” at 5:30 p.m. Ali Novak discusses “My Return to the Walter Boys.” Aashna Avachat presents “Love Craves Cardamom.” Local author Adriana Mather moderates the romantic discussion.

Fantasy enthusiasts gather at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church at 7:00 p.m. “Fantasy with Teeth (and Romance!)” features three imaginative authors. Skyla Arndt shares “House of Hearts.” Rory Power discusses “Kill Creatures.” Shveta Thakrar presents “Divining the Leaves.”

One Book, One Salem Highlights Salem Literary Festival 2025

Finally, Sunday’s programming culminates with two major events. Salem Academy Charter School hosts a World War II history discussion at 1:00 p.m. Doug Most presents “Launching Liberty.” Michelle Young shares “The Art Spy,” Rose Valland’s extraordinary resistance story.

The festival’s crown jewel arrives at 3:00 p.m. Julia Alvarez headlines the “One Book, One Salem” community read. The acclaimed author discusses “The Cemetery of Untold Stories” (“El Cementerio de los Cuentos Sin Contar”) with Dr. Keja Valens. A reception and book signing follow the bilingual Spanish-English presentation.

The Salem Athenaeum organizes community discussions in English and Spanish. Free copies of Alvarez’s novel are available throughout Salem starting in June. Readers can find books at Fiesta en la Calle on June 14, the Ice Scream Bowl on August 6, and the Farmers Market on August 21.

Permanent distribution locations include Salem Athenaeum, Salem Public Library, Proyectos Punto, North Shore CDC, and Little Free Libraries throughout the city. The entire community can participate regardless of economic circumstances. The Salem Athenaeum even provides free audiobooks through Recorded Books for those who prefer listening.

Practical Information for Festival Attendees

The Salem Literary Festival 2025 combines in-person and virtual events. Literature lovers worldwide can participate. Most events occur in historic venues throughout downtown Salem. The Salem Athenaeum coordinates all programming.

While admission remains free, donations support future festivals. The festival accepts contributions at all events. Many authors offer book signings after their sessions—local bookstores partner to provide titles for purchase.

Families particularly enjoy Saturday’s Children’s Lit Fest. Sensory-friendly story time begins at 9:00 a.m. Crafts and snacks keep young readers engaged until noon. The Peabody Essex Museum’s Ropes Mansion garden features a self-guided story walk September 4-7.

Therefore, whether you love historical fiction, young adult romance, or children’s literature, this festival offers something special. The Salem Literary Festival 2025 celebrates storytelling in all its forms. Mark September 3-7 on your calendar now!

Salem Literary Festival 2025 Schedule – REGISTER HERE

Wednesday, September 3

• 7:00 p.m. – Opening Night with Allegra Goodman, Isola
• North Shore CDC, 96 Lafayette Street, Second Floor

Thursday, September 4 (Online Only)

• 7:00 p.m. – Fireside Chat with Lev Grossman, The Bright Sword: A Novel of King Arthur

Friday, September 5

• 6:00-8:00 p.m. – Enduring Hawthorne: Ekphrastic Writing Open Mic
• Location TBA

Saturday, September 6

Children’s Lit Fest – Community Life Center, 401 Bridge Street

• 9:00-9:30 a.m. – Sensory Friendly Story Time (Room 201)
• 10:00-11:00 a.m. – Story Time with Authors
• 11:00 a.m.-noon – Crafts, Snacks & Book Signings

Adult Sessions – Ames Hall, 290 Essex Street

• 10:00 a.m. – Micro Marvels: Thirty Tiny Works of Literary Art
• 11:30 a.m. – Cooking the Books: Cookbook Authors
• 1:00 p.m. – Conflict, Camaraderie, & Comedy: Mothers & Daughters
• 2:30 p.m. – Top Secret: Mid-century Historical Fiction
• 4:00 p.m. – In Conversation: Catherine Newman and Weike Wang

Young Adult Sessions

• 5:30 p.m. – Get Swoony in Salem with YA Romance
  • Cinema Salem, 1 E India Square Mall
• 7:00 p.m. – Fantasy with Teeth (and Romance!)
  • St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 24 St. Peter Street

Sunday, September 7 – Salem Academy Charter School, 45 Congress Street

• 1:00 p.m. – Saving Civilization: True World War II Stories
• 3:00 p.m. – One Book, One Salem: Julia Alvarez, The Cemetery of Untold Stories
• Reception and book signing to follow

Note: Schedule subject to change. Visit salemlitfest.org for updates.

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