When you hear that there is a book festival in a town as tiny as Lewes, Delaware — home to just 3,000 people — you wouldn’t be blamed for underestimating it. However, the 2024 History Book Festival attracted more than 6,000 attendees over the three-day festival weekend, plus a special Community Event on Monday.  And with just 24 books featured over the four days, all of our authors draw impressive, enthusiastic audiences for their presentations and signings.

 

Lewes, Delaware

The festival is hosted at the pristine Delaware beaches, which draw millions of visitors annually and attract well-educated, engaged residents. Lewes — dubbed “the first town in the first state” — is a town with unexpectedly rich history and architecture. The History Book Festival drew its 2024 audience from 16 states and the UK.

Save the dates

Three days of history: The festival is always scheduled for the last weekend in September each year. The ninth annual festival will take place September 26-28, 2025. We will kick off with a ticketed keynote on the 26th, followed by a full-day of free programming on the 27th, and a ticketed closing event on the 28th. Many of our authors do school events on Friday and Monday, for which the festival donates books.

Book sales and signings

In 2024, book sales topped 3,000, with a 95% sell-thru rate. All books are available for purchase at the festival, at Browseabout Books in Rehoboth, and at biblion in Lewes. The ticketed keynote and closing events also include a signed book with the price of admission. In addition, the History Book Festival buys all festival books for the Delaware Public Library System and donates books for school events, adding to book sales overall, and only festival authors’ books are available at the event.

Authors and attendees

Authors love the warm welcome, interest from, and engagement with both organizers and attendees; on-site book promotion and sales (limited to festival authors only); opportunities for collegial fellowship with other authors; and the ease of event logistics—before, during, and after. Attendees love the quality of authors we attract; the accessibility provided, and interactions offered with the authors who present; the diversity of our selections; and the ease of event logistics.

21 presentations

In 2024, the festival weekend offered 21 presentations featuring 23 authors covering a broad range of historical fiction and narrative nonfiction by both well-known and emerging authors. All Saturday events are free-of-charge with book signings following each author presentation. The ticketed keynote and closing events usually sell out in advance.

More than 6,000 attendees

In addition to our sold-out keynote and closing events, the authors in our 19 free events on Saturday almost all drew audiences between 100-250 attendees each. The small, walkable town creates an intimate space where authors and readers can slow down and engage personally. The History Book Festival is lauded by authors and audiences alike for the sense of community and collegiality it fosters.

Robust promotion

Our marketing strategy includes print and digital outreach: from bookmarks slipped into books at local sellers to ads in area publications to active social media channels and partnerships with regional public radio stations.

Easily accessible

Lewes is a comfortably short drive from D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, and New York. It’s also within 90 minutes of the Wilmington AMTRAK station as well as the Philadelphia Airport.

 

Authors are our special guests


The History Book Festival is dedicated to offering a broad range of historical stories and storytellers, with authors and books selected with care. Our goal is for all attendees to find their own place in history here and, of course, authors are key to this experience. All participating festival authors are provided the following: 

  • Complimentary lodging at a boutique hotel in the walkable historic district.

  • Assistance with transportation, including pickup from Philadelphia Airport or Wilmington Amtrak Station or travel stipend.

  • Authors-only welcome reception with light dinner on Friday after keynote.

  • Author green room with snacks throughout event and lunch provided on Saturday. 

  • Closing “Spirited Discussion” cocktail party for attendees and authors, providing another chance for authors to interact with the public on Saturday. 

  • Private author reception hosted Saturday evening, hailed as not-to-be-missed by authors. 

  • Each author is provided a personal guide to shepherd them through the event. 

  • Opportunities for school events (Friday and Monday options) and other events with HBF partners throughout the year, extending authors’ reach. 

  • Festival book titles are promoted and sold at local bookshops throughout the busy spring, summer, and fall resort seasons. 

  • Participation in this nonprofit festival puts funds and books into the Delaware Public Library System, community organizations, and schools.

About the Festival


The History Book Festival is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit community-based organization run by a board of volunteers. As the first book festival in the nation devoted to the topic of history, we believe in the power of history, literature, and civil dialog to change the future for the better.