The Central Wisconsin Book Festival began in 2017 as an initiative of the Marathon County Public Library in Wausau, WI and takes place annually around the last weekend of September. The festival remains under MCPL’s umbrella and is organized by about a dozen community volunteers. In 2021, our festival expanded to include the participation of the Portage County Public Library in Stevens Point, WI and McMillan Memorial Library in Wisconsin Rapids, WI. Our three libraries remain annual partners for this festival and you’ll find events in a variety of places in each city

The goal of the festival is to provide book lovers in Central Wisconsin and beyond with a chance to hear and meet a multitude of authors – some they know, some they don’t – over the course of several days.In addition to fostering a connection between author and audience, our festival gives people in our communities a chance to build their own connections through their mutual passion for literature in its many forms and genres. Past events include traditional author readings and QandAs, panel discussions, workshops, live storytelling events and more.

Our festival is almost entirely grant funded (see our “Supporters” page), and all events are always free to attend

The 2024 festival organizers are: Sonja Ackerman, Julie Bunczak, Chad Dally, Eddie Glade, Jane Janke Johnson, Colin McGinnis, Rob Mentzer, Cheryl Posner, and Jill Stukenberg. Additional help from Ben Krombholz, Robyn Vargas, and Stephanie Martell at the Marathon County Public Library.