Taking New Bedford Bookfest into 2017
One of the most gratifying experiences (among many) I’ve had here at Groundwork! is co-founding the New Bedford Bookfest with Sarah Athanas and Dena Haden. When we launched the first bookfest last year, we really didn’t know what to expect. Fortunately, what resulted was the birth of a new tradition in the city due to its overwhelming success.
The pleasure that authors and patrons took in the bookfest was motivational. As we prepare for 2017, we’re excited to announce that the Spring and Fall New Bedford Bookfests will be evolving and growing to keep up with demand.
The Spring & Fall New Bedford Bookfests
On Saturday, April 22 and Sunday, April 23rd, the Spring bookfest will take place here at Groundwork! from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. both days.
On Saturday, October 28 and Sunday, October 29, the Fall bookfest will take place, also at Groundwork!, and this year it will be dedicated exclusively to Childrens and YA books and the illustrators who create both.
Authors, publishers and book sellers interested in tabling at one or both bookfest should email us NewBedfordNow@gmail.com.
Once again, both bookfests are free and open to the public. But, in order to deepen the bookfest experience, we’ve added some special ticketed events during it over the two days this April and in in October. And we’re excited to announce the first of these here.
The Rise & Fall of the American Movie Theater
Brooklyn photographer and author Matt Lambros has scoured the nation in search of abandoned cinematic treasures such as Loew’s Kings Theater, the Everett Theatre in Boston and yes, New Bedford’s own Orpheum Theatre. His stunning pictures and text have been collected in a volume entitled “After the Final Curtain: The Rise and Fall of the American Movie Theatre.” Another publication, “King’s Theatre: The Rise, Fall and Rebirth of Brooklyn’s Wonder Theatre” is devoted to chronicling its amazing restoration.
Lambros will discuss these movie palaces and share his insights into their restoration during a special discussion followed by a Q & A and book signing beginning at 1:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 22 during the New Bedford Bookfest. Tickets to the talk alone are $10, and a ticket which includes the talk as well as Matt’s beautiful book are $50. You can RSVP and purchase both at this link.
Follow us into 2017
We’re proud and happy to shepherd the New Bedford Bookfest forward after a dramatic opening year. Between now and April 22, we’ll be sharing additional features of the bookfest here and on its own dedicated website, www.nbbookfest.com. You can get notifications through Groundwork’s Facebook page and also via Facebook/NewBedfordNow, dedicated to creating eclectic events in our city.
Of course, what we’ll be most pleased with is hosting dozens of local and regional authors at the bookfest. Expect to meet them and their work over the course of the next two months…so that when you attend the bookfest and get to meet them in person, you’ll enjoy that same feeling you experience when you open the pages of your favorite book…
You’ll be greeting a friend.
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