Nevada Humanities Literary Crawl 2024

Reno’s literary scene comes alive once again with the return of the Nevada Humanities Literary Crawl. Since 2014, this community driven festival has provided a unique space for poets, writers, readers, and all literacy lovers to come together and share stories while celebrating the written word. 

Christina Barr, executive director of Nevada Humanities, shared her excitement about the festival’s return: “We are thrilled to welcome authors, artists, and community members back to the streets of Reno for a Literary Crawl reunion. We’re excited to see old friends, welcome new ones, and celebrate the written word together as we bask in Nevada’s literary glory.” 

On Saturday, October 12, 2024 the streets of Reno will be filled with workshops, conversations, book signings, panels and performances. From family friendly activities to late night sessions at venues like The Loving Cup and 1864 Tavern, there is something for everyone. 

George Tsz-Lam, assistant director of Nevada Humanities, played a key role in organizing this year’s Literary Crawl. With a background in arts administration, nonprofit work and managing performances, George was eager to take on the challenge. With preparation as early as five months ago excitement builds as the event is now just days away. 

“I was excited about planning and executing this event, even when I was applying for the job,” he shared. “This event is much bigger than what I’ve handled before but the chance to bring the festival back to Reno after a break was something I really looked forward to,”

This year proudly showcases voices from across the state offering a mix of experiences. “One new initiative that we are excited about is having the Radical Cat,” George mentioned. “It’s a pop-up bookstore just for the Literary Crawl that will be taking over parts of the Lake Mansion at Arts For All Nevada.”

For those looking for their next great read, the Radical Cat will feature works from participating authors, adding another layer of discovery to the event. 

Over the years, the Nevada Humanities Literary Crawl has evolved, both in scale and location. The early years of their crawl were in venues such as Reno’s Sundance Books and Music, a beloved local bookstore that has been serving the community since 1985. For 39 years, Sundance was a place that supported authors, artists, and the entire community. The literary hub was as much about connection as it was about books. Although Sundance closed its doors, its legacy remains an integral part of Reno’s literary history. 

As the Crawl has grown, so too have its venues as it spreads across downtown Reno. Each year brings new voices, new concepts, and community members. This year’s 2024 Literary Crawl features Pulitzer Prize-winning author Anthony Doerr, whose keynote event marks one of many highlights. Doerr’s presence is part of a diverse lineup of writers of all backgrounds and genres, reflecting the festival’s continued growth as a celebration of storytelling in all its forms. 

The Nevada Humanities Literary Crawl will fill the streets of Reno, and as Christina Barr summed it up, “Join us to inspire all, and I will see you as we crawl the streets of Reno together.” For more information and the full event schedule you can visit https://www.nevadahumanities.org/literarycrawl .