Charlotte BookPalooza enters its biggest chapter yet

Charlotte BookPalooza returns on Oct. 10 in Uptown.

Why it matters: The third annual book festival is expected to be its largest yet, Kat Varner, festival organizer and Books on the House executive director, tells Axios.

Context: BookPalooza serves as the signature fundraiser for Books on the House, a nonprofit book collective that has given away more than 102,000 books since March 2023.

What to expect: The festival will include more than 60 vendors, more than 85 authors, plus local bookshops and other nonprofits.

There will be a space to read to a rescue dog, opportunities to meet your new book bestie, crafts and games, a "Fourth Wing"-inspired parapet and even a space to "park your partner" while you shop.

The first 250 attendees will receive a free swag bag.

You may bring an empty tote or an empty wagon for your book haul, Varner tells Axios.

If you go: BookPalooza will take place at Truist Field in Uptown from 11am-4pm. A festival pass is $5 and those under 16 years old get in for free.

Full lineup

Go deeper: Independent bookstores in Charlotte — and a few more within driving distance