The Midwest’s largest literary festival returns to Chicago’s historic Printer’s Row neighborhood in the South Loop with the Printer’s Row Lit Fest on September 6 and 7, 2025.
Photo courtesy of Printers Row Lit Fest
Stretching out over five blocks, the Printers Row Lit Fest features more than 100 booksellers, interactive discussions with local and national bestselling authors, spoken word performances, book signings and writing workshops.
Photo courtesy of Printer’s Row Lit Fest
Browse through tents filled with new and rare literary treasures or listen to a discussion with authors. Headliners include Chicago’s beloved MacArthur Award-winning poet, novelist and short story writer, Sandra Cisneros, as well as Pulitzer Prize winner Maureen Dowd and Illinois Laureate Mark Turcotte.
Don’t miss presentations and discussions like ” From Fire to Feast: Survival, Ambition and the Food World,” at 2 pm on Saturday and “Sex in the Second City” at 2 pm on Sunday.
Children’s programming at the fest includes interactive reading and drawing games and a storybook parade on Saturday at 10:30 am. The 40th annual Printers Row Lit Fest will run from 10 am-6 pm on Saturday, September 6 and Sunday, September 7.
All lit fest events are free and don’t require tickets but seating is on a first-come, first-served basis so arrive early for good seats.
Printer’s Row Lit Fest
Dearborn Street, from Polk Street to Ida B. Wells Drive
September 6 and 7, 2025, 10-6 pm
Free
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