Lake Norman Bookpalooza Literary Festival attracts large crowd to Liberty Park

Special to IFN

Organizers of the inaugural Lake Norman Bookpalooza Literary Festival have declared the event a resounding success.

Books on the House, a Charlotte-based nonprofit literacy organization, organized and produced the event in partnership with Fred & June’s Books, bringing a community-centered literary celebration to a new and enthusiastic audience. Books on the House had previously planned and executed the Bookpalooza Literary Festival in Charlotte.

Lake Norman Bookpalooza was held on Saturday, April 25, at Liberty Park in Mooresville. The literary festival attracted more than 6,500 attendees for a day that celebrated books, community, and the authors who bring both to life.

Readers of all ages browsed offerings from a diverse lineup of independent authors, many of whom reported their best-ever single-day sales figures. Bookish vendors, local food businesses, and a local brewery tent rounded out the atmosphere, giving the event the feel of a true community gathering rather than a conventional book fair. Activities were woven throughout the grounds, ensuring there was something for every type of attendee.

Morgan and Stephen Hayes, the co-owners of Fred & June’s Books, praised the efforts of Kat Varner and Jesse Brown, the founders of Books on the House.

“Everything was so well done, expertly organized, and all of those in attendance had an absolute blast. We’ve longed for the Lake Norman and Mooresville communities to have an opportunity to experience something like this, and Kat and Jesse made it happen – beyond anything we ever expected!” the co-owners of Fred & June’s Books said.

A Special Evening for Mystery Lovers

The evening before the festival, Fred & June’s Books hosted an exclusive murder mystery event at The Attic at Fred & June’s, the bookstore’s upstairs event space. Bookseller Rachael Dandison led the evening alongside three nationally recognized authors — Emma C. Wells, Mallory Arnold, and Marlee Bush — providing guests with the opportunity to hang out with some of their favorite authors and solve a mystery. All three authors also appeared on the author panel at Bookpalooza the following day, giving attendees multiple chances to connect with them throughout the day and adding a unique element to the festivities.

Reflecting and Looking Ahead

“Lake Norman BookPalooza was everything we hoped it would be and more. This event came to life because of an incredible community of people who believed in the vision. We are so grateful to Fred & June’s Books and the Town of Mooresville for helping make it possible. We also want to thank every volunteer, author, vendor, and community partner who brought their time, talent, and heart to the event. Its success belongs to everyone who showed up and helped bring this vision to life,” Varner and Brown said.

Planning is already underway for a return to Mooresville in 2027.

LEARN MORE

♦ For more on Books on the House and its mission, and to show your support for an amazing organization, visit www.booksonthehouse.org.

♦ To learn more about Fred & June’s Books and upcoming events, visit www.fredandjunesbooks.com or follow along on social media (@fredandjunes on IG and Facebook).