Northshire Book Festival 2026: A Weekend in Booktopia

Join us for bookish good times at Northshire Bookstore's annual festival - an intimate gathering of readers & writers in beautiful Vermont!

Join Northshire on May 1-3, 2026 in beautiful Manchester Center, Vermont, for an intimate weekend of talks, signings, celebration, and a wonderful array of guest authors!

Our 2026 festival authors will include: C. J. Dotson, Jennifer Dugan, Susan Gregg Gilmore, Alia Hanna Habib, Jimin Han, Stephen Kiernan, Lauren Morrow, Emma Parry, T. Kira Madden, John Sayles, Kim Van Alkemade and Jung Yun.

Our programming on Friday, May 1st will include author presentations, book recommendations, and an opening-night catered reception, featuring heavy hors d’oeuvres and a limited cash bar. The weekend will include author interviews, readings, signings, book bedazzling, bookish trivia and a yankee book swap.

It is possible to purchase tickets for each individual day or to save by purchasing a three-day festival pass. Tickets other than the Sunday-only ticket all include a $50 Northshire Bookstore gift card. You will receive your gift card upon check-in at the festival.

Festival Schedule (as of March 24 - schedule is subject to change, you will receive the final schedule at check-in!)

Friday, May 1st

10:00–11:00 am­: Check in & wristband pick-up­

11:00–11:15 am: Festival Welcome & Announcements

11:15 am–12:30 pm: This Gift Card is Burning a Hole in My Pocket! Book Picks with Northshire's staff!

2:00–2:45 pm:

• Susan Gregg Gilmore
• CJ Dotson

3–3:45 pm:

• Jung Yun in conversation with Nicole Ihasz
• Lauren Morrow -

4-4:45 pm:

• Historical Fiction: John Sayles and Emma Parry in conversation with Stephen Kiernan
• Jimin Han

5:00-7:00 pm: Opening Reception - Join the festival authors and Northshire staff for festive mingling, heavy hors d'oeuvres, and a cash bar.

Saturday, May 2nd

8:30–9:00 am­: Check in & wristband pick-up­

9:00–9:45 am:

• T. Kira Madden in conversation with with Joe Donahue
• Jung Yun

10:00 am–10:45 am:

• Jennifer Dugan in conversation with Rachel Person
• Jimin Han in conversation with Kim Van Alkemade

11:00 am–11:45 am:

• Genre Fiction: CJ Dotson and Jennifer Dugan in conversation with Nicole Ihasz
• Susan Gregg Gilmore in conversation with Stan Hynds

1:30-3:30 pm: The Big Event! A group reading with all our festival authors, followed by a book signing!

3:30-4:30 pm: Meet the Industry Experts! Literary agents Alia Hanna Habib and Emma Parry and book publicist Lauren Morrow in conversation with Rachel Person

4:45-5:45 pm: Bookish Fun!

• Yankee Book Swap
• Book Bedazzling

6:00-7:00 pm: Book Lovers’ Trivia!

Sunday May 3rd

10:00–10:30 am­: Check in & wristband pick-up­

10:30-11:15: A peek at the future! Kim Van Alkemade & Stephen Kiernan discuss their forthcoming books with Nicole Ihasz

11:30-12:15: John Sayles

12:30-1:15: T. Kira Madden in conversation with Kim Van Alkemade

Venue Information:

• Festival check-in will take place at Northshire Bookstore's main entrance on May 1-3.
• All presentations and festival events will take place either at Northshire Bookstore's Manchester store or at the First Baptist Church, across the street from the store.

Lodging Information:

If you are traveling to Manchester for the festival, we hope you will stay at one of our official partner hotels!

• The Aspen: Festival rates start at $104/night before taxes & fees. Click here to book directly.
• The Inns of Dorset: Booktopia rates start at $195/night before taxes and fees and include breakfast. Call 802-867-5500 or 802-867-4555 to reserve and mention BOOKTOPIA to receive the discounted rate.
• Kimpton Taconic Hotel: Special Booktopia rates start at $149.00/night before taxes and fees. Meals at the Copper Grouse will be 10% off for festival attendees. Click here to book directly.

• Reluctant Panther Inn: Rooms are $239.20 or $287.20 before tax for festival attendees. Call 802-362-2568 and mention BOOKTOPIA to book.

• Toll Road Inn: Festival attendees will pay $120.00/night for a room with 2 double beds and $130.00/night for a room with a king bed. There is a two night minimum stay to receive this rate. Book online at tollroadinn.com and use the code BOOKTOPIA.
• The Wilburton Inn: Rooms are $185 per night. Attendees can call 802-362-2500 and mention BOOKTOPIA, or book online at wilburton.com and use code BOOKTOPIA.

If you have questions about this or any other Northshire event, please reach out to us at events@northshire.com