Inti Navia 
If you didn’t come to Lit Fest this year, you were missed out. The book lovers event ran from September 9th to the 10th, with tents and stalls of books set up and down Printer’s Row.
Lit Fest is the biggest free outdoors literary showcase in the midwest. My friends and I checked it out for a day, and the vendors sold all kinds of cool books. We even found some dating back to the early 1900s. You get free stuff, too. There were people handing out free copies of books and prizes, like bookmarks.
What I enjoyed most about it was getting to walk around with my friends and check out the books. Even though it was mostly just window shopping, it also provided the opportunity to meet and connect with authors, like Joseph Anthony Rulli.
Rulli has written books like Chicago Marching: A History of Protest, Authority, and Violence and Chicago Socialism: The People’s History. When asked what his favorite part was from working there at his table over the weekend, he said, “It’s definitely the interaction with readers and writers! The vibe is amazing – bookworms, history nerds, etc.” He added, “It’s my Lollapalooza!”
Some speakers at the event included Pulitzer Prize winners Toluse Olurinnipa and Robert Samuels, authors of His Name is George Floyd: One Man’s Life and Struggle for Racial Justice.
If you missed it this year, make a note of it for next year! They have all sorts of books there across all genres, and plenty of interesting people to hear and talk to. At the end of the day, it’s a nice weekend for you and your friends, and a nice break before college starts back up again.
By Inti Navia, Freshman, Columbia College Chicago
All Platforms: @intinavia
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