STAUNTON, VA (Rocktown Now) — The second annual Queen City Word Fest will return to downtown Staunton on Saturday, Oct. 17, bringing together authors, readers and aspiring writers for a full day of literary events.

The festival will feature author panels, writing workshops and a free Meet the Authors event designed to celebrate books and storytelling while connecting readers with regional and local authors.

Educational panels and writing workshops will be held throughout the day at Silver Line Theatre Exchange, 211 N. Lewis St. Workshop topics will be announced later this month, and advance ticket purchases will be required to attend.

The festival’s signature Meet the Authors event will take place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 110 W. Beverley St., next to The Book Dragon Shop. More than 30 authors representing a variety of genres will be on hand to sign and sell their books. Admission to the event is free and open to all ages.

Word Fest festivities will begin ahead of the main event with a kickoff celebration on Tuesday, Oct. 6. The Book Dragon Shop will host authors Bill and Karen Brodsky, who write under the pen name K.B. Brodsky, for a discussion of their new Simon & Schuster thriller, Beyond Honor. The meet-and-greet and book signing will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at Redbeard Brewing Co., 120 S. Lewis St., with author David Symms serving as moderator. The event is free and open to the public.

Organizers say the inaugural Queen City Word Fest, held in October 2024, attracted hundreds of visitors and local residents for author meet-and-greets and educational panels, helping establish the festival as a new literary tradition in Staunton.

Additional information about the festival, including workshop announcements and updates, is available through the Queen City Word Fest page on The Book Dragon Shop’s website.