UCLA played host this weekend to over 100,000 people who came for the 12th annual Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, a fair featuring authors, speaker panels and vendors of all kinds.
In tents occupying much of North Campus, visitors could buy books from corporate and independent sellers or listen to writers give readings from their books.
This year’s festival drew a number of literary celebrities, including Mitch Albom, T.C. Boyle and actress-turned-children’s book author Julie Andrews.
Some writers gave special presentations, while others spoke in the 97 author panels on topics such as memoirs and blogs.
While the festival drew thousands of visitors from the greater Los Angeles area, many students also attended.
Danielle Ryan, a second-year English student who also volunteered at the festival, said she believes the event complements her academics.
“As an English major, it’s cool because we get to see what we can do with (our degrees). … We get to see the other side of it, like publishing,” she said.
While booksellers made up a majority of vendors at the festival, visitors could also browse a variety of other literature-related items.
Kerckhoff Art Gallery housed originals and prints of illustrations from well-known children’s books, including the Harry Potter series.
An original watercolor portrait of the Cat in the Hat, painted by Dr. Seuss, was on sale for $24,000.
Other fair-goers lined up for lunch in “Janss Food Court” at the top of the Janss steps or caught a concert in Bruin Plaza.
Compiled by Julia Erlandson, Bruin senior staff.