We sat down to talk with the organizers of the Ridges & Rivers Book Festival taking place in Viroqua this weekend to talk about where the festival started and everything it has to offer. Organizers Lisa Henner with the Driftless Writing Center and Trina Erickson with the McIntosh Memorial Library said they had already collaborated on other projects but this was by far their biggest undertaking yet.
The two were having lunch with a friend over a year ago to discuss a previous project, The Vernon County Reads project, when they came up with the idea of a book festival. From there the two say the project has grown by leaps and bounds and drawn the whole community together. Which is exactly what they had hoped for. Scores of volunteers have been enlisted, businesses have stepped forward to donate and provide spaces for the events, state and local government along with non-profits provided funding.
It has been a long road but after more than a year of planning the two say they are ready.
“We’ve spent the last 12 months meeting on a consistent basis to create a high-quality event showcasing the literary arts by engaging authors from around the world and finding support from businesses just down the street” said Erickson.
The festival April 28-30 will feature 17 author presentations, a book fair highlighting a mix of authors and representatives from small presses, writing workshops, children’s events, an art display, seminars, and Book Gardens featuring pop-up author readings in several businesses along Viroqua’s Main Street.
The festival begins on Friday, April 28 with registration starting at 4:00pm inside the library lobby, followed by a Dungeons and Dragons Tournament, and book sales by featured book seller Dragonfly Books. Former Wisconsin Poet Laureate Dasha Kelly Hamilton will perform Makin’ Cake at the Temple Theatre at 7:30pm. This free show will include a cupcake for all registered attendees.
Saturday, April 29 will be a full day of events featuring Book Festival activities from the Vernon County Historical Society to City Hall. Visit the festival website for the complete schedule of events. Special activities include a waffle breakfast from the Waffle Wagon at the Vernon County Historical Society, Lion Burgers for lunch from the Viroqua Lions Club from 11:00-2:00 inside the Eagles Club and live music Saturday night at the Eagles Club by Knapp Creek and Rucksack Revolution beginning at 7:30pm.
“We will conclude the festival on Sunday, April 30 with a celebration of poetry as April is National Poetry Month” said Henner of the Driftless Writing Center. The final events will begin with a community pancake breakfast from 8:00-10:00am at the Viroqua United Methodist Church. Poetry focused events will start at 10:00am at the McIntosh Memorial Library and will wrap up with a poetry reading at Encore in downtown Viroqua from 1:00-2:00 followed by a community open mic at 3:00pm. Readers are limited for the open mic, preregistration is required.
All festival events are free of charge except for two writing workshops and food purchased from event vendors. Those planning to attend are encouraged to register in advance. All registered attendees will receive an event bag filled with a program guide, a coupon book for Viroqua area businesses, and tourism information.
Information about the Ridges & Rivers Book Festival is available through the event website, the event Facebook page, or by calling 608-637-7151 ext 8.
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