If you’ve ever struggled to find Asian American written-books (besides an omnipresent volume of Rupi Kaur poetry) on the shelves of your local Barnes & Nobles, head to the Asian American Literature Festival in Washington, D.C. this weekend.
Organized by the Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center, the festival features appearances from a wide range of contemporary API authors, including Ocean Vuong, Minh Le and T Kira Madden. Although it took a hiatus in 2018, the AALF is back for its second year since 2017. With a theme centered around caregiving, the three-day festival will include a number of live readings from renowned writers, as well as panel discussions and workshops. The fun begins with an inaugural Poets’ Peace Breakfast in Franklin Square Park on Friday, August 2, followed by events at the Eaton D.C., the Library of Congress (another festival sponsor) and the Smithsonian’s Freer/Sackler Galleries.
Not to mention, the entire festival is free to the public. Head downtown to enjoy a lively spoken word showcase, participate in a writing workshop or listen in on a live podcast. Or, simply sit back and soak up the literary atmosphere with like-minded API bookworms. You can find the full schedule of events here.
Looking For Something Fun And Free In Washington, D.C.? Head To The Asian American Literature Festival
