First Annual Carroll Book Festival Draws Thousands to Carroll County Farm Museum
September 19, 2026 by Kevin Dayhoff
September 19, 2026 by Kevin Dayhoff
WESTMINSTER, Md. — Books, authors and thousands of enthusiastic readers filled the grounds of the Carroll County Farm Museum Saturday, Sept. 19, for the first annual Carroll Book Festival, a new community wide celebration of literature that organizers had envisioned for several years.
Organizers reported that more than 5,000 people attended the inaugural festival, which featured more than 100 national bestselling and independent authors. The free, all-ages event included author signings, panel discussions, author talks, book sales, literary vendors, food trucks and activities for children. The festival was held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Farm Museum on South Center Street in Westminster.
Among the featured authors was Jodi Picoult, the bestselling author who headlined the festival with an author talk about her new novel, Hollow Bones. Her appearance was part of a particularly strong author lineup that included writers of fiction, mystery, romance, horror, historical fiction, children's literature and other genres. Festival organizers said roughly half of the more than 100 authors participated in panels, conversations and readings, while other authors met readers and signed books in the Author Village
.
The program also emphasized young readers. Activities included a children's character breakfast and character appearances, along with children's programming and story-related activities. The festival's outdoor setting spread programming across several areas of the Farm Museum, allowing visitors to move between author presentations, signing areas and vendors throughout the day.
The Carroll Book Festival grew from discussions that began around 2021 about creating a major literary event for Carroll County. Formal planning began in 2025, with organizers working with publishers, authors, bookstores and community organizations to develop a festival capable of bringing more than 100 authors and thousands of readers together in Westminster.
The festival's organizers also credited a broad group of sponsors and community partners for helping make the inaugural event possible. The official Carroll Book Festival website lists Baltimore's Child; The Baltimore Sun and Carroll County Times; Carroll Community College; Carroll County Chamber of Commerce; Carroll County Department of Economic Development; Carroll County League of Women Voters; Carroll County Tourism; Centers for Advanced Orthopaedics OrthoMaryland; David and Laura O'Callaghan; GFWC Woman's Club of Westminster; JeannieBird Baking Company; Jeff Griffith and Diane Vacarro; Julie Ford Mount, David Mount and Family; The Last Word Bookstore; Maryland Horse Library and Education Center; Maryland Public Television; McDaniel College; Park Books on Main; Park Literacy Project; Penguin Random House; Richard and Karen Soisson; Synergist Computing; Two Sides to the Story Podcast; and Village Printing.
The program also emphasized young readers. Activities included a children's character breakfast and character appearances, along with children's programming and story-related activities. The festival's outdoor setting spread programming across several areas of the Farm Museum, allowing visitors to move between author presentations, signing areas and vendors throughout the day.
The Carroll Book Festival grew from discussions that began around 2021 about creating a major literary event for Carroll County. Formal planning began in 2025, with organizers working with publishers, authors, bookstores and community organizations to develop a festival capable of bringing more than 100 authors and thousands of readers together in Westminster.
The festival's organizers also credited a broad group of sponsors and community partners for helping make the inaugural event possible. The official Carroll Book Festival website lists Baltimore's Child; The Baltimore Sun and Carroll County Times; Carroll Community College; Carroll County Chamber of Commerce; Carroll County Department of Economic Development; Carroll County League of Women Voters; Carroll County Tourism; Centers for Advanced Orthopaedics OrthoMaryland; David and Laura O'Callaghan; GFWC Woman's Club of Westminster; JeannieBird Baking Company; Jeff Griffith and Diane Vacarro; Julie Ford Mount, David Mount and Family; The Last Word Bookstore; Maryland Horse Library and Education Center; Maryland Public Television; McDaniel College; Park Books on Main; Park Literacy Project; Penguin Random House; Richard and Karen Soisson; Synergist Computing; Two Sides to the Story Podcast; and Village Printing.
Proceeds from the festival are intended to support literacy initiatives in Carroll County, according to the Farm Museum and festival organizers. The event was free to the public, although certain special programs, including the Jodi Picoult presentation and character activities, required tickets or advance registration.
With its combination of nationally recognized authors, local writers, children's activities and opportunities for readers to meet authors face-to-face, the inaugural Carroll Book Festival marked a significant addition to Carroll County's cultural calendar and provided a large-scale gathering built around something as simple and enduring as a love of books.
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20260919_CBF sign; 20260919 1 CBF_P_1; 20260919 1 CBF_P_2; 20260919 1 Schedule; 20260919 vend-map_1; 20260919 vend-map_2: Books, authors and thousands of enthusiastic readers filled the grounds of the Carroll County Farm Museum Saturday, Sept. 19, for the first annual Carroll Book Festiva.
20260919_C Seabolt: Carolyn Seabolt was one of more than 100 authors who participated in panels, conversations and readings, while other authors met readers and signed books in the Author Village.
20260919_Holmes: Steve Holmes was one of more than 100 authors who participated in panels, conversations and readings, while other authors met readers and signed books in the Author Village.
20260919_L Kamoie: Laura Kamoie was one of more than 100 authors who participated in panels, conversations and readings, while other authors met readers and signed books in the Author Village.
20260919 A Picoult: Jodi Picoult was one of more than 100 authors who participated in panels, conversations and readings, while other authors met readers and signed books in the Author Village.
20260919 B Panel: One of the many panel discussions at the Carroll Book Festival included a panel discussion on “Giving Voice to the Past: Susan Higginbotham, Elizabeth Letts, Laura Kamoie, and Steven A, Holmes. The discussion was moderated by Cheryl Klam.
20260919 V Vill Print: Village Printing was one of the many sponsors that the festival's organizers credited for helping make the inaugural event possible.
20260919 V CAC: Gwen Asbury and Stephen Strosmider with the Carroll Arts Council were one of the many community partners that the festival's organizers credited for helping make the inaugural event possible
20260919_CBF sign; 20260919 1 CBF_P_1; 20260919 1 CBF_P_2; 20260919 1 Schedule; 20260919 vend-map_1; 20260919 vend-map_2: Books, authors and thousands of enthusiastic readers filled the grounds of the Carroll County Farm Museum Saturday, Sept. 19, for the first annual Carroll Book Festiva.
20260919_C Seabolt: Carolyn Seabolt was one of more than 100 authors who participated in panels, conversations and readings, while other authors met readers and signed books in the Author Village.
20260919_Holmes: Steve Holmes was one of more than 100 authors who participated in panels, conversations and readings, while other authors met readers and signed books in the Author Village.
20260919_L Kamoie: Laura Kamoie was one of more than 100 authors who participated in panels, conversations and readings, while other authors met readers and signed books in the Author Village.
20260919 A Picoult: Jodi Picoult was one of more than 100 authors who participated in panels, conversations and readings, while other authors met readers and signed books in the Author Village.
20260919 B Panel: One of the many panel discussions at the Carroll Book Festival included a panel discussion on “Giving Voice to the Past: Susan Higginbotham, Elizabeth Letts, Laura Kamoie, and Steven A, Holmes. The discussion was moderated by Cheryl Klam.
20260919 V Vill Print: Village Printing was one of the many sponsors that the festival's organizers credited for helping make the inaugural event possible.
20260919 V CAC: Gwen Asbury and Stephen Strosmider with the Carroll Arts Council were one of the many community partners that the festival's organizers credited for helping make the inaugural event possible
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