Bibliophiles, rejoice: the lineup for the LA Times Festival of Books is here.
Each April, hundreds of authors flock to the USC campus for two days of free lectures, signings and performances. This year, Arianna Huffington and Carrie Brownstein top the lineup with two separately ticketed "Ideas Exchange" sessions. Elsewhere, you'll find free conversations and panels with the likes of Buzz Aldrin, Joyce Carol Oates, Padma Lakshmi and Henry Winkler.
Per usual, cooking demonstrations and panels are well represented with scheduled appearances from pastry chef Duff Goldman, Chez Panisse chef Alice Waters, TV personality Pati Jinich and Birch chef Brendan Collins.
The rest of the festival, scheduled for April 9 and 10, includes a mix of essayists (T.C. Boyle, Pico Iyer, Susan Orlean), actors (Nate Corddry, Taye Diggs, Annabelle Gurwitch) and iconic cultural figures from Marvel's Stan Lee to beloved restaurant critic Jonathan Gold. Check out the full schedule here.
Admission to the event and nearly all of its readings are free. However, indoor conversations require reservations; tickets are available beginning April 3 at 9am for free with a $1 service fee. If you'd rather skip the service charges, you can try your luck at the on-site ticket booth, but we don't suggest that for the more popular panels. Festival passes ($35), which guarantee admission to eight events of your choice, along with tickets for the previously mentioned "Ideas Exchange" panels ($35) go on sale to the general public March 11 at 10am; LA Times subscribers can purchase them now.
The Festival of Books takes place April 9 from 10am to 6pm and April 10 from 10am to 5pm across the USC campus.
