The inaugural Gold Coast Book Fair featuring a multitude of nationally recognized authors, librarians and journalists will be held in downtown Oyster Bay and at Long Island University June 28-30.
The Gold Coast Book Fair is a collaboration between the Oyster Bay Main Street Association, Long Island University, and Theodore’s Books, a bookstore founded by former U.S. Rep. Steve Israel. Though the fair is set to host a variety of authors from across the nation, over half of the attending writers are from Long Island. The first two days of the fair will be held within the Brookville campus of Long Island University, and the event will subsequently assemble in downtown Oyster Bay on Sunday.
“[We] wanted to create this celebration of literature that is going to highlight the contributions that we have made, as Long Islanders, to our literary heritage, but also to bring in authors who may not have a connection to Long Island,” former Rep. Steve Israel stated in an interview with CBS.
The fair will kick off at 7 p.m. with a special event at the Krasnoff Theater at Long Island University hosted by renowned journalist and author Erik Larson, discussing his recent book on the tumultuous events of the American Civil War: The Demon of Unrest. Another special event will be held at Krasnoff Theater on Saturday morning by writer and Johns Hopkins University professor Alice McDermott. On Sunday afternoon, the First Presbyterian Church will host the incumbent Librarian of Congress, Dr. Carla Hayden, as another headliner.
In addition to various keynotes and panel discussions from leaders in contemporary literature and journalism, the event is set to host vendor marketplaces, helping support local authors and businesses alike. The book fair will also feature all-day kids’ events to spark literary interest among young readers, including scavenger hunts and workshops. Various indie authors will have their own showcases alongside prominent national writers, allowing attendees to discover and support new, independent talent.
Admission to the event on Saturday and Sunday is completely free for children and adults. To help support local authors and discover new writers, tickets may be purchased to the event at goldcoastbookfair.com
