Happening Around Town: Hamilton Fall Literary Events
Staff Writer Jessica Rose fills us in on all the exciting literary events past and forthcoming in and around our city.
Do you remember the last in-person literary event you attended before the COVID-19 pandemic changed everything? Here at the Hamilton Review of Books, we were in the planning stages of a book fair planned for March 2020. It wasn’t meant to be! Now, two and a half years later, arts communities across the country (and globe!) are cautiously, but optimistically, returning to in-person events. Hamilton is no exception, meaning a number of the city’s most anticipated festivals are bringing literary programming back to the stage.
Supercrawl
In September, Supercrawl brought music, visual arts, fashion, dance, theatre, and so much more to James Street North. We, of course, were most excited about the larger-than-ever line-up of authors appearing in the Authors Tent. The tent featured authors from Hamilton and beyond, including Sally Cooper, a founding member and former editor at the Hamilton Review of Books and many other friends to our publication. Focusing on books from independent presses, Supercrawl celebrated and showcased our city’s incredible literary community, while also giving audiences a much-missed chance to say hello to writers and to get books signed, too!
Telling Tales
For younger audiences, Telling Tales returned to a live and in-person festival, this time taking place at the Royal Botanical Gardens’ beautiful Hendrie Park. The two-day festival featured five stages with more than 40 authors, illustrators, and storytellers. Like many other literary festivals, Telling Tales has adopted a hybrid model, continuing to present events virtually, too. To see what’s coming up next, visit: tellingtales.org
But That’s Not All…
If you missed Supercrawl and Telling Tales, there are still many more chances to enjoy our city’s vibrant literary community this fall. Here are just a few examples:
LitLive
What: Lit Live is a literary reading series featuring a diverse and exciting range of writers from across Canada and from Hamilton on the first Thursday of each month, from September to June. Lit Live features poets, novelists, short story writers, non-fiction writers, and sometimes YA writers on the same bill, each reading for about 15 minutes.
When: Thursday, November 3
Where: Art Gallery of Hamilton, 123 King St W. and presented virtually through Zoom
Time: 7:00pm
For details, visit litlive.blogspot.com
Epic Books In-Store Events
What: A plethora of readings and discussions from authors local and beyond all hosted by your neighbourhood independent bookstore.
When: Multiple Dates
Where: Epic Books, 226 Locke St S
For details, visit epicbooks.ca/events
Hamilton Zineposium
What: The Hamilton Zineposium is organized by a small volunteer collective of Hamiltonians who love zines and wonky art objects of all kinds.
When: Saturday November, 5
Where: Hamilton Central Library, 55 York Blvd.
Time: 11am – 4pm
For details, visit zineposiumhamilton.wordpress.com
gritLIT Fall Series
What: A celebration of Canadian authors that allows attendees to get “up close and personal” with their favourite writers and to discover new voices. gritLIT brings together diverse voices – the biggest Canadian authors, up and coming talent, and local Hamilton writers – in a series of readings and themed events.
When: Saturday, November 19
Where: Online via Zoom
Time: 10:00am - 6:00pm
For details, visit gritlit.ca