Decatur Book Festival Breaks Attendance Records
Decatur Metro | September 5, 2013
This press release just came in this afternoon…
More than 85,000 lovers of all things literature poured into downtown Decatur over Labor Day weekend for the 2013 AJC Decatur Book Festival Presented by DeKalb Medical (AJC DBF), the eighth version of the largest independent book festival in the country.
More than 500 authors packed 18 stages, families enjoyed two children’s parades, and art | DBF, an arts and culture showcase featuring nearly 50 Atlanta organizations, made its much anticipated debut. Not to mention it all got started with a keynote address by civil rights icon and Georgia congressman, John Lewis, just two days after the 50th anniversary of the historic March on Washington.
AJC DBF program director, Philip Rafshoon, in his first year as PD, certainly put his stamp on the festival.
“The 2013 AJC Decatur Book Festival was an amazing success and broke all attendance records. From the moment that our Writer’s Conference kicked off on Friday, through the Keynote and Kidnote Addresses on Friday night, through hundreds of readings, signings, performances, and parties all weekend, this was a truly exceptional festival,” said Rafshoon. “Thanks to the one thousand volunteers, more than 500 authors, our phenomenal speaker managers, and the entire community for making the largest independent book festival in the country better than ever.”
AJC DBF executive director and co-founder, Daren Wang, said he continues to be amazed by what his team and the Decatur community are capable of.
“2013 was a huge leap forward for the AJC DBF. With the best lineup of authors, the biggest crowds, the most venues, and a vibrant new arts component, we bit off more than we could chew, and went ahead and chewed it anyway,” said Wang. “As usual the army of volunteers that make the AJC DBF tick did the city of Decatur proud. And I’m especially grateful to all of our sponsors this year for allowing us to dream big and then make it happen. It was the best year yet, and we’re still only just getting started.”
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Saturday there were more people downtown than I have ever seen.
Hi, We found a dog running down the street in Decatur. Do you know a way I can post pictures of him to see if we can find his owner?
congratulations DBF—y’all bang books like a screen door in a hurricane.
Totally adopting that phrase into my lexicon. And I’m glad you enjoyed the event.
Hell, that one is going into our sponsor package for 2014.
Great job everyone! Thanks for making it a success.
I think it’s way cool that this year’s keynote address, besides having been made by one of the greatest heroes of 20th Century American history, was related to a graphic novel.
And that said hero did not even flinch when I barged into the tent and nearly knocked him over while he was signing books on Sunday (long story, but let’s just say I’m glad the Congressman doesn’t travel with a security detail or else I may have become the first DBF volunteer killed in the line of duty)!