The 2025 Tucson Festival of Books is in the books, with tens of thousands of attendees flocking to the University of Arizona campus to celebrate their favorite authors and stories.

Visitors were treated to a walk through a living library, including bustling tents, eager authors, children’s storytimes, science demonstrations and cultural exhibits.

While Saturday morning’s chilly temperatures and winds made for a bit of a slow start, the crowds picked up once the sun decided to make its appearance. Sunday saw steady crowds throughout the day, with the afternoon's final panels drawing hundreds of attendees.

With the festival offering more than just books, kids and teens enjoyed hands-on exhibits, engaging events, prizes, and freebies. The event showcased a rich variety of themes, from cultural heritage to culinary arts, showing the power of books to inspire and connect.

Attendees lined up early and quickly filled lecture halls and ballrooms, eager to hear from acclaimed authors like Julia Phillips, Mateo Askaripour, Kirsten Miller, Samantha Harvey, and Maureen Dowd.

Over at the signing stations, fans braved icy winds and springtime heat for the chance to get a book signed by their favorite author, with Nnedi Okorafor, Rebecca Thorne and Ali Hazelwood boasting lines that wrapped around tents and buildings.

Lindy Mullinax, a volunteer for 16 years, pointed to the festival’s economic impact on Tucson.

"Authors are flying in, staying in our hotels, eating at our restaurants — that makes a big difference,” she said. “Vendors with exhibitor booths or food stands are also seeing that boost.”

Mullinax said this impact, paired with the festival’s rich cultural experience, makes it an invaluable event for the community and is a positive boost for Tucson’s local businesses.

Attracting crowds from far and wide, the festival injects millions into the local economy, fueling vibrant growth and transforming every visitor into a catalyst for community prosperity.

Throughout the weekend, music wafted through the air, transforming the festival into a vibrant symphony of sound. The UA Jazz Ambassadors delivered smooth, soulful tunes, while the School of Rock House Band, Las Azaleas, and the Steven Sera Band electrified the crowd.

Ken DeStefano, author of “I Will See You Again: Hearts Will Sing,” marveled at the festival's ability to spark meaningful conversations. DeStefano’s books explore the experiences of adoptees and birth parents, aiming to raise awareness about these often-overlooked challenges.

"People have been so welcoming and curious," DeStefano said. "We've met so many who share a connection to adoption, and those conversations have been priceless."

He praised the festival’s power to bring people together and encourage curiosity about unfamiliar experiences — something he believes is central to the magic of reading.

For Danny Marianino, author of comic-style books like “It Blows My Mind,” the festival offered a way to reach readers.

"There's a ton of people here, and it's definitely helped me broaden to a new audience," he said.

Marianino stressed the importance of reading as a gateway to new adventures, encouraging visitors to pick up a book and find a story that can spark their imagination.

UA student Jackson Durkin described the festival as a lively hub of activity, packed with science experiments and interactive exhibits that entertained visitors of all ages.

"I got to shock my arm with electrodes," Durkin said with a laugh. "It's like all these little science experiments, and there's always something to see."

Durkin said he appreciates Tucson’s sense of community, noting that the festival reinforces the city's close-knit spirit.

In Science City, children and teens had the opportunity to learn about different topics like robotics, video game coding, quantum science, and astronomy.

The festival also offered activities including paper-rocket building with Raytheon, exploring Tucson Medical Center’s Inflatable Mega Heart, and refining copper from green rocks.

Volunteer Jen Hunter said she especially appreciates the festival’s emphasis on indie authors and bilingual literature.

"The diversity of authors and languages really helps bring people together," she said. “It’s a cultural representation thing — people want to learn more about different backgrounds.”

The Tucson Festival of Books continues to thrive, uniting people through stories, culture, and curiosity, and proving that no wind or rain can dampen the magic of a good book.

Angelina Maynes is a University of Arizona alum and reporter with Tucson Spotlight. Contact her at angelinamaynes@arizona.edu.

Colton Allder is a journalism major at the University of Arizona and Spotlight intern. Contact him at callder1995@arizona.edu.

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