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, 2025 History Book Festival authors presented to more than 7,000 people from 25 states over the three-day festival weekend. And with just 22 books featured, 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, with an engaged and curious local population. The History Book Festival drew its 2025 audience from 25 states.
Save the dates: 9/25-27
Three days of history: The festival is always scheduled for the last weekend in September each year. The tenth annual festival will take place September 25-27, 2026. We will kick off with a ticketed keynote on the 25th, followed by a full-day of free programming on the 26th, and a ticketed closing event on the 27th. Many of our authors also do school events on Friday or Monday in addition, 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. 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.
Each author featured
In 2025, the festival weekend offered 24 presentations featuring 22 books covering a broad range of historical fiction and narrative nonfiction by both well-known and emerging authors, with each author provided a featured slot. All Saturday events are free-of-charge with book signings following each author presentation. The ticketed keynote and closing events sell out in advance.
Strong attendance for every author
In addition to our sold-out keynote and closing events, the authors in our 20 free events on Saturday almost all drew audiences between 90-350 attendees each. The small, walkable town creates an intimate space where authors and readers can slow down and engage personally. HBF is lauded by authors and audiences alike for the sense of community and collegiality it fosters.
Community engagement
Whenever possible, HBF partners with other national, state, and local community organizations/nonprofits whose missions align with our authors’ books, providing a way for each author to build audience and to forge relationships with others who can continue to promote their work. In addition to building audiences for each authors’ HBF presentations, some community partners host HBF authors for bonus “bookend” event, adding another opportunity for HBF audience engagement and book sales.
School events expand reach
SInce 2016, HBF has facilitated author events for thousands of students from preschool to college in Delaware, primarily at Title 1 schools. Through our funding partners’ support, HBF provides free books for classrooms, libraries, and/or students, in keeping with each school's preference. Programs have included readings; writing, poetry, and drama workshops; student media interviews; open discussions; and presentations. Audiences vary from a classroom to an entire grade or school assembly.
Robust promotion
Our marketing strategy includes print and digital outreach: from bookmarks slipped into books at local sellers to ads in regional publications to active social media channels and partnerships with 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 and two hours from 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:
Authors-only welcome reception with light dinner on Friday after keynote.
Author green room with snacks throughout event; lunch stipend 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, relaxed 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 and increasing HBF book purchases.
Modest stipend for all traveling authors with additional funds for those doing school and/or HBF bookend events.
Free-of-cost home host and community driver options available on a first-come basis (these are popular and are booked up quickly).
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.