By Melissa McGrath, Festival Manager
“I love the atmosphere of the quaint little village nestled in the hills. Everyone is calm, relaxed, and friendly. Surrounded by others who think that reading and books are oh so important makes me feel as if I’ve found my people! The opportunity to discover new authors and hear people’s stories is wonderful.
-2022 EMWF attendee
The 35th annual Eden Mills Writers’ Festival (EMWF) will be held on Sunday, September 10, 2023 in the village of Eden Mills. The event, a favourite for local booklovers, will feature more than 40 Canadian authors who will share their recently released books through panel discussions, interviews, readings, and more.
The full list of featured authors will be announced on Tuesday, July 11, at the same time ticket sales open. Advance tickets to the festival are available at a reduced rate until Monday, August 31. Admission is free for children and offered at a discount for students.
In addition to showcasing the work of published authors, the festival also supports the work of aspiring writers of all ages. The winners of the EMWF’s Read at the Fringe Literary Contest are invited to read their work at the event, while also receiving a cash prize. Submissions in the categories of fiction, creative nonfiction, and poetry will be accepted until Friday June 30. Entry details can be found on the festival’s website.
Our Poetry Contests for children and teens are also still accepting submissions. In celebration of the beautiful natural setting of the festival, the 2023 contest theme is nature. Winners will receive gift certificates to a bookstore of their choice and a family pass to the festival. They’ll also be recognized at the awards ceremony at the event.
For those who would like to get involved but are not writers, we welcome volunteers! The festival has long relied on the many generous volunteers who donate their time to make the festival a warm and welcoming experience for our patrons. Generally, the time commitment for volunteers is a 2-3 hour shift. Volunteers are provided with training, and free access to festival programming before and/or after their shift. Learn more here.
The EMWF works to increase accessibility at the event every year. In 2022, we improved and expanded accessible seating, washrooms, and picnic tables. We also increased the number of golf carts providing transportation throughout the village, and both our children’s stage and main adult stage include ASL Interpretation. If you have any questions or concerns about accessibility at the event, please contact [email protected]. We would be happy to work with you to ensure that our event addresses your needs.
We hope to see you in Eden Mills in September! In the meantime, keep up to date with the festival by subscribing to our newsletter, or by following the festival on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.
“This was my first time at the festival, and it was a wonderful experience. Such thoughtful programming and a beautiful space to gather. I look forward to next year’s festival!”
-2022 EMWF attendee
