St. Petersburg's literary festival returns: Free day of books and jazz in Legacy Gardens

South St. Petersburg hosts a major gathering for children's literature next month. The fifth annual St. Pete Reads! Lit Fest is scheduled for November 7 at the Woodson African American Museum of Florida.

The event will take place in the Legacy Gardens outside the museum at 2240 9th Ave S. It runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free, though organizers encourage attendees to register in advance.

The festival lineup includes several prominent authors and illustrators. Layesha Walton will attend with her book "Galaxy Girl." Carole Boston Weatherford, a Children's Literature Legacy Award winner, is also on the list. Illustrator Gregory Christie will be present with his works "Black Hands: Builders of Our Nation" and "Jazz Baby."

Programs include book swaps, storytelling sessions, and workshops led by writers from across the United States. Live music will be provided by the Al Downing Jazz Association. Mary Corbett, a violinist with the Florida Orchestra, will also perform.

The Cultured Books Literacy Foundation, a non-profit focused on strengthening reading culture in the area, organizes the event. Founder Lorielle J. Hollaway expressed the group's philosophy on the foundation's website. "I don't believe reading should feel like something we have to do. It should be something we discover, enjoy, and share," she said.

This gathering marks the fifth year of the festival in St. Petersburg. It is designed to be family-friendly. The schedule remains fixed for Saturday, November 7, with activities starting at 11 a.m.