Bee Cave librarian: Books and Bees Festival is coming April 5-6
The Bee Cave Public Library is proud to announce the third annual Books and Bees Festival taking place in and around the Hill Country Galleria on Friday and Saturday. As a hub of literacy for children, teens and adults, the library hosts programs year-round that are embraced by the community and draw people from all around Central Texas.
As a Bee City USA affiliate, the city of Bee Cave is committed to educating the public and helping conserve this most important insect. Our one-of-a-kind Books and Bees Festival helps accomplish these two missions — to foster a love of literature in kids and adults alike by bring in high-profile, bestselling authors, and to teach our residents and their kiddos more about bees. There will be so many fun activities, entertainment and readings in store, you will not want to miss this free event!
For the first time this year, the festival includes an exclusive VIP night where guests can meet acclaimed author Elizabeth Crook, who will discuss and sign her newest book, "The Madstone." Books and Bees VIP takes place on Friday from 7-9 p.m. at Keystone Bank in Bee Cave. Keystone Bank is the signature sponsor for the festival and is hosting the inaugural VIP event at its beautiful new building on RM 620. Tickets for the VIP event include an adult beverage and dessert as well as a signed copy of "The Madstone." Author and podcaster Wendi Aarons will be moderating the discussion and Q&A with Elizabeth Crook. Proceeds from the evening benefit the Friends of Bee Cave Public Library.
On Saturday, from 1-5 p.m., Books and Bees will present an amazing lineup of authors, book signings, crafts for kiddos, bee education, and even eclipse-related activities. Look for the Nature Tent in front of the library for a live bee hive and the chance to learn all about bees from Peter Keilty with Bees-For-All. Starry Sky Austin will have a solar telescope set up where you can learn more about the impending solar eclipse. Festival T-shirts and plushy bees will be for sale at the merchandise tent, where the Friends of the Library will hand out free bee headbands while supplies last. Beloved characters Elephant and Piggie will be on hand with Buzzy the Bee to meet and greet the kids. Keystone Bank will be providing lots of fun giveaways for adults and prizes for the kids who complete a fun scavenger hunt at the festival.
For literary fun, head into the library at Bee Cave City Hall to find author talks, book sales, and book signings for children and tweens. City Council chambers will transform into a tween space for interactive storytelling with a South Asian twist by Peerbagh Storytelling at 1 p.m., followed by an author panel for middle grade readers, “Reaching for the Stars,” at 2 p.m. with authors Leila Sales, Lyla Lee and Lee Reed. At 3 p.m., tweens can listen to authors Mari Mancusi and Kacy Ritter at “For the Love of Dragons” talk about their middle grade novels, "New Dragon City" and "The Great Texas Dragon Race," respectively.
In the community rooms above the library, you’ll find an amazing lineup of picture book authors reading a story and answering questions every half hour from 1-4 p.m., including Candy Wellins, Vanessa Roeder, Anne Wynter, Kari Lavelle, Don Tate and Breanna Carzoo. Free crafts for all ages will be ongoing throughout the afternoon, followed by a rollicking concert with Hot Toast Music Company to end the day.
Our outstanding lineup of young adult and adult authors will be speaking and signing books next door at Barnes & Noble Booksellers from 1-5 p.m. Historical mystery writer Mark Pryor kicks things off at 1 p.m. discussing his Henri Lefort World War II series, followed by teen novelists Erin Cotter and Aaron Aceves at 2 p.m. Ehignor Okosun will discuss her new epic fantasy novel at 3 p.m., followed by novelist Lynda Rutledge, author of the best-selling "West With Giraffes," who will discuss her new novel, "Mockingbird Summer," a tale of friendship set amid the turmoil of the Civil Rights movement.
For a complete schedule of the day’s events or to purchase tickets to Books and Bees VIP, please visit booksandbeesfestival.com.
Barbara D. Hathaway is the library director at the Bee Cave Public Library.
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Bee Cave librarian: Books and Bees Festival is coming April 5-6
