Welcome to the Home page for the 2025 Mesa Book Festival!

Let this page be your guide for a fun day of book based fun!

Quick Navigation Guide

If you are looking to attend and see what happening, You are here! Just scroll down and start salivating at all the stuff.

Looking to see who the Vendors are? We are keeping a dynamic list here updated regularly.

Special Opening Event- Breakfast with Krampus presented by the East Valley Children's Theater

***THIS IS A TICKETED EVENT***

9am-10am, Limited Seating
Inside The Post, 26 N Macdonald, Mesa, AZ
Ticket link will go live on this page soom.
The East Valley Children's Theater presenta a light hearted look at the character from european folklore. Krampus is supposed to be WITH St. Nicholas, but he's lost.

Early Bird Discounts

OK, so the FIRST 100 attendees that find us at the Information Booth will get a $3 Golden Ticket to use at a participating vendor. Those Vendors are:

[Coming Soon]

Reader Quests!

Go around the festival site, and find the quest givers- you'll find them, trust us. Get a quest and find the answer. The answer is with one of the vendors. But which one? That's what you have to find out. Prizes await!

Holiday Tree Readings

Coordinated by the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, join one of our special guest children's book readers at the Holiday Tree.

Main Stage Entertainment

Entertainment

10am East Valley Childrens Theater
11am Music Set
1pm Literary Costumne Contest, hosted by the Mesa Tribune
2pm Music Set
5pm Music Set

Literary Costume Contests

Come dressed as your favorite book character for the Chance to win prizes. Sponsored by the Mesa Tribune and Kids Need to Read, there are three divisions:

Kids, Age 0-12
Teens, Age 13-17
Adults, Age 18+

Winners are audience decided, so be sure to bring plenty of friends! You character can be any character that has appeared in print, here are some tips:

• If planning to compete, be sure to sign in to the information booth BEFORE 12:30pm, so we know you are coming. We'll ask for your name, and the name of the character you are dressing as and the book they are from.
• Be sure to check in at the MAIN stage by 12:45pm, so we know you are there.

Fiber First Signing Tent

Festival Sponsor Fiber First is hosting a special series of signings from their tent right at the Holiday Tree, including:

Karen Chow, Author of Miracle
DaVaun Sanders, Author of Minecraft The Tournament and Keynan Masters and the Peerless Magic Crew
Violet Duncan, Author of Buffalo Dreamer

Kids Need to Read Signing Tent

10am-12pm
Ryan Dalton, Author of This Last Adventure
Teresa Krager

12pm-2pm
Judy Laufer, Author of Gigglyville Series
Katie Vernon, Author of We're Having a Party

2pm-4pm
G.F. Miller, Author of What if You Fall for Me First
Tiffany Ellington

4pm-6pm
Darren Farrell, Author of Lion In Bed

6pm-8pm
Russ Kazmierczak, Author/Illustrator of Amazing Arizona Comics

Food Trucks and Carts

[Details Coming Soon]

Let's Talk Games

Our Friends at Bookmaze are hosting the Bookmaze Emporium (that's what we are calling it anyway), a series of tents just North of the Main Stage.

• Open Gaming for Pokemon & MtG the whole day
• Pokemon card giveaways
• Paint and take
• Giveaway Prize Wheel
• Trivia Contests
• Game Demos

Be a Volunteer

Click Here to sign up and be a volunteer for a part of the day!

Special Guests

Thank You To Our 2025 Sponsors

Become a sponsor yourself