North Dakota Book and Arts Festival set for Sept. 26 in Jamestown

Nearly 60 authors, three creative writing workshops and an author panel on publishing will fill Harold Newman Arena when the North Dakota Book and Arts Festival returns to Jamestown on Saturday, Sept. 26. The free event will run from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the University of Jamestown, 1004 7th St. NE, and it will be open to readers and art enthusiasts of all ages.

The festival is designed as a place where local and regional writers and artists can display, promote and sell their work, giving Stutsman County residents a one-day market for books, prints and other creative work without leaving town. Organizers also plan craft activities for kids and food trucks on site, making the arena a busy stop for families as well as readers looking for new titles and familiar names from the region.

The event will also include the release of the 38th issue of Plainsong, the University of Jamestown’s creative magazine. That addition gives the festival more than a book fair feel; it ties the day to the university’s own literary tradition and gives writers, artists and students a shared stage inside Harold Newman Arena.

Jill Pfaff, the festival organizer and assistant library director for the James River Valley Library System, said more than one author will be launching a new book release at the festival. That makes the Jamestown stop especially relevant for local readers who want to meet authors while they are unveiling new work, not just signing copies of books already on shelves.

The University of Jamestown and the James River Valley Library System describe the festival as an annual celebration of books, writers, artists and creativity in Jamestown. By centering it at the university, the event turns a campus venue into a regional gathering place and gives the city a concrete reason to pull people downtown and onto campus for a full day built around culture, reading and community.