Mission Statement

The Chippewa Valley Book Festival is an annual celebration of the written word and its impact on the human experience. Our mission is to encourage reading, writing, and engagement.

Our History

The Chippewa Valley Book Festival, which began in 1999 under the sponsorship of the Literary Arts Committee of the Eau Claire Regional Arts Council, has evolved into a dynamic event, offering a variety of programs promoting reading and writing.

The book festival partners with L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library, other area libraries, school districts, the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, the University of Wisconsin-Stout, the Chippewa Valley Museum, and other community partners to bring authors and readers together in celebration of the written word through readings, book discussions, author receptions, and youth programs.

Since 2000 the festival has hosted over 330 writers. Among them have been such nationally known writers as Ayad Akhtar, Charles Baxter, Christina Baker Kline, Nickolas Butler, Matthew Desmond, Hillary Jordan, Caroline Fraser, Rebecca Makkai and local writers such as John Hildebrand, Michael Perry, and B.J. Hollars. Our annual poetry conversation has included Wisconsin Poet Laureates Karla Huston, Kimberly Blaeser, Margaret Rozga, and Max Garland.

Nearly 5,000 students and adults attend and participate in festival events, author visits in the schools, and the Young Writers Showcase. The positive image and family-friendly activities associated with the festival also benefit libraries, book stores, area businesses, and the local arts scene.