Los Angeles Times Festival of Books

Bibliophiles flock to the USC campus each spring for this annual two-day event. The outdoor book fair of sorts features stalls from a variety of booksellers, as well as author readings, signings and culinary demos. The sheer variety and quality of talent the festival attracts is impressive and legendary—this year’s lineup includes a mix of superstars from the literary, entertainment and culinary worlds, including Amy Tan, Elvira, David Duchovny, Hannah Brown, Larry David, Lisa Rinna, Megan Abbott, Roxana Jullapat, Roxane Gay, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Susan Orlean. Bring the kids and spend the weekend discovering new titles, watching screenings and enjoying live music and cultural entertainment. Entry and tickets to conversations are free (reservations open up April 12), while a limited number of speaker-series events are ticketed, starting at $28. Before the weekend kicks off, the 46th annual Los Angeles Times Book Prizes awards the year’s best in literature on Friday (tickets are $28–$83).