KC Literary Festival in KC Star
The Kansas City Literary Festival of course isn’t specifically an irish event; it just has a significant Irish element.
Well, if by any chance you’re sick of all things Irish - like your parents for example - be aware there is a lot going on, and remember it is FREE. The history of previous incarnations of this festival, and the hopes for the future are featured in an article in the Kansas City Star.
One of the organizers of the rained out second Great American Book Festival in 1998 was Rainy Day Books owner Vivien Jennings:
Jennings thinks the Crown Center location itself was problematic.
“The Plaza has more traffic than Crown Center, just because of the nature of the shopping,” she said. “Crown Center is more out-of-towners and conventions. The Plaza is more Kansas Citians. And the Plaza Art Fair has been a very successful event for several years, so when you have another festival like this, people are more familiar with it.”
And what will Literary Festival visitors see on the Plaza this weekend?
Visitors to the Plaza on Saturday will find a three-block area filled with all things books: A Kids Stage at Jefferson and Nichols Road, just south of the McDonald’s. A Culinary Stage on Pennsylvania, near Panera and Brio, between 47th Street and Nichols. A “Books and Brew Lounge” pavilion smack-dab in the middle of the Pennsylvania-Nichols intersection. Just south of the lounge, a Poets Stage. Just east of the lounge, Specialty Authors. East of that, a book-signing tent.
And east of the book-signing area, at Nichols and Broadway, the Main Stage, site of appearances by major national authors including McCourt (A Monk Swimming), Candice Millard (The River of Doubt), Nancy Pickard (The Virgin of Small Plains), Ted Kooser (Delights & Shadows) and Jennifer Weiner (Good in Bed).
See Also:
• Irish Authors at KC Literary Festival
• Malachy McCourt at Kansas City Literary Festival
• “Irish Festivals” by Larry Kirwan
Eolaí gan Fhéile:
i love what larry says in the essay, “…in the end, festivals are about community.”
Larry always says great things, from songs to podcasts to the written word.
I know some people don’t like his politics, but it’s hard to knock honesty, and I regard him as a national treasure.