Los Angeles Times Festival of Books

Bibliophiles flock to the USC campus each spring for this annual two-day event. The outdoor book fair of sorts features stalls from a variety of booksellers, as well as author readings, signings and culinary demos. The sheer variety and quality of talent the festival attracts is impressive and legendary—the just-announced lineup includes a mix of superstars from the literary, entertainment and culinary worlds, including Chelsea Handler, Jenny Slate, Jon M. Chu, Rachel Kushner, TJ Klune and chefs Brooke Williamson and Nicole Rucker. Bring the kids and spend the weekend discovering new titles, watching screenings and enjoying live music and cultural entertainment. Entry and tickets to conversations are free, while a limited number of speaker-series events are ticketed, ranging in price but often starting as low as $10. Before the weekend kicks off, the 45th annual Los Angeles Times Book Prizes awards the year’s best in literature on Friday (tickets are $22–$83).