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Adirondack Family Book Festival | Lake Placid | August 15, 2026

  • Olympic Oval 2634 Main Street Lake Placid, New York, 12946 United States (map)

Adirondack Family Book Festival Brings Big Stories to Lake Placid

Young girl reading a book

Bring the whole family to the Adirondack Family Book Festival.

Lake Placid will trade skates for stories on Saturday, August 15, when the Adirondack Family Book Festival takes over the Olympic Speed Skating Oval from 9:30 am – 4 pm.

The free outdoor literary festival brings an impressive group of children’s and young adult authors and illustrators to the heart of the Adirondacks for readings, conversations, art, book sales and plenty of opportunities for young readers to meet the people behind the pages.

There is something particularly fitting about holding a book festival outdoors in the Adirondacks. After all, this is a place that practically demands curiosity — about animals, forests, mountains, history and the people who inhabit them. The festival takes that instinct and gives it literary form.

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A Lake Placid book festival built for young readers.

The Adirondack Family Book Festival isn't simply an authors-behind-a-table affair. A large gathering tent and several smaller tents will turn the Olympic Speed Skating Oval into an open-air celebration of books, with authors and illustrators reading aloud, discussing their work and meeting readers throughout the day.

The 2026 lineup includes Kate Messner, Jason Chin, Rebecca Stead, Hena Khan, Veera Hiranandani, Erin Entrada Kelly, Kekla Magoon, Torrey Maldonado, Sarah Beth Durst, Loree Griffin Burns, Maxwell Eaton III, Rebecca Donnelly, Vartan Johnson, Honni David, Amy Guglielmo and Arihhonni David.

Collectively, their work ranges from picture books and graphic novels to nature writing, middle-grade adventures and books for teens. That breadth makes the festival unusually easy to enjoy with children of different ages — including those whose definition of a good book bears little resemblance to a sibling's.

Children attending a book festival.

This festival is a family affair.

Stories, drawing and discovery in the Adirondacks.

Programming begins at 10 am with a welcome in the main tent, followed by a full schedule of themed conversations.

Younger readers can explore books celebrating identity and family during “Be Who You Are,” while “The Curiosity Club” turns toward animals, nature and exploration. Middle-grade readers get mysteries, magic and impossible journeys, and a lunchtime read-aloud from 12:30 – 1 pm offers a “book tasting” for hungry readers — with attendees invited to bring their own lunch.

The afternoon shifts toward visual storytelling. At 1:15 pm, authors and illustrators explore how to make a graphic novel, followed at 2 pm by “The Drawing Room: How Illustrators Make Magic.” A Teen Reads session, recommended for ages 12 and older, begins at 2:45 pm.

Browsing and book sales open at 9:30 am and return from 3:15 – 4 pm, giving families time to discover a new favorite and, perhaps, have it signed by its creator.

Why the Olympic Speed Skating Oval works.

Lake Placid's Olympic Speed Skating Oval gives this literary gathering an unmistakable sense of place. Instead of moving from fluorescent room to fluorescent room at a conventional conference, families will spend the day outside beneath Adirondack skies, right on Main Street in one of the region's most recognizable Olympic venues.

Festival organizers also plan activities connecting selected books with the natural beauty of the Adirondacks, along with hands-on opportunities for art-making and discovery.

Young adult or teenager reading a book.

That combination — books, creativity and the outdoors — makes the festival feel less like a literary convention transported north and more like an event that belongs here.

ADK Taste recommendation.

Arrive close to 9:30 am and browse before the first program begins. Families with younger children may want to concentrate on the morning sessions, while graphic novel fans and teens have particularly strong reasons to stay into the afternoon.

Because the festival takes place outdoors on the Oval, check the official Adirondack Family Book Festival website or Facebook page before heading to Lake Placid for any weather-related updates. And with the venue directly on Main Street, it is easy to pair the festival with lunch or an afternoon stroll through the village.

Adirondack Family Book Festival details.

When: Saturday, August 15, 2026, 9:30 am – 4 pm

Where: Olympic Speed Skating Oval, 2634 Main Street, Lake Placid, NY

Admission: Free and open to all

Setting: Outdoors on the Olympic Speed Skating Oval

What to expect: Authors, illustrators, readings, panel discussions, drawing and creative activities, book browsing and sales

For families spending an August weekend in Lake Placid — or anyone raising the sort of child who considers meeting an author a celebrity encounter — this one deserves a place on the calendar.

The Adirondack Family Book Festival is a project of John Brown Lives! with the robust creativity and involvement of numerous community partners and volunteers including:

For more hand-picked Adirondack happenings, local stories and good things to eat along the way, subscribe to ADK Taste’s In Good Taste newsletter. It arrives weekly with a curated guide to making more of life in the Adirondacks.

Mother and baby looking a children's picture book.

Frequently asked questions.

When is the 2026 Adirondack Family Book Festival?‍ ‍

The festival takes place Saturday, August 15, 2026, from 9:30 am – 4 pm.

Where is the Adirondack Family Book Festival held?‍ ‍

It is held outdoors at the Olympic Speed Skating Oval, 2634 Main Street in Lake Placid, New York.

Is the Adirondack Family Book Festival free?‍ ‍

Yes. The festival is free and open to the public.

What ages is the festival for?‍ ‍

Programming spans picture books, middle-grade books and young adult literature, making the festival appropriate for families with children and teens of a wide range of ages.

Can visitors meet authors and illustrators?‍ ‍

Yes. The festival is designed to give readers opportunities to hear from and meet participating children's and YA authors and illustrators, with book browsing and sales also available.

What happens if the weather is bad?‍ ‍

Because the festival is planned as an outdoor event, visitors should check the official Adirondack Family Book Festival website or Facebook page for the latest information and any weather-related changes before traveling to Lake Placid.


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