attend the event
why registration matters
Registration serves as the cornerstone for funding literary festivals, providing vital financial support for organizing events, securing venues, and inviting esteemed authors. Moreover, it fuels the creation of exciting programs, featuring diverse panels, workshops, and discussions that engage attendees in thought-provoking dialogues and immersive literary experiences. From book signings with renowned authors to interactive storytelling sessions for all ages, the festival’s dynamic program cultivates a vibrant literary community, enriching minds and fostering a deeper appreciation for the written word.
With each registration, participants contribute not only to the sustainability of the festival but also to the cultivation of a thriving cultural landscape. The funding generated enables organizers to curate an array of stimulating activities, including poetry slams, book launches, and literary competitions, which celebrate creativity and ignite passion for literature. By registering to support the festival, individuals not only gain access to these enriching experiences but also play a pivotal role in nurturing a space where ideas flourish, connections are forged, and the power of storytelling is celebrated.
“Walk in the Footsteps of F. Scott Fitzgerald: A Guided BUS Tour of
Jazz Age Rockville.”
Jazz Age Rockville.”
Join historian Eileen McGuckian for an exclusive bus tour of Rockville, the small town F. Scott Fitzgerald knew intimately in the 1920s. Experience the essence of Rockville during the Jazz Age as you visit key locations such as the site of Fitzgerald’s father’s funeral, the institution where his mother stayed, and the historic cemeteries where F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald are buried.
Space is limited. Register early.
Eileen McGuckian, Historian & author
Eileen McGuckian, a renowned author of six books on Rockville history, including “Rockville: Portrait of a City” (2001) and “F. Scott Fitzgerald’s Rockville: A Guide to Rockville in the 1920s” (1996), will guide you through this immersive bus tour experience.
Her experience in history and preservation spans four decades with Rockville and County historic commissions, the Maryland Historical Trust, and nonprofits such as Montgomery Preservation, Coalition to Protect MD Burial Sites, and Higgins Cemetery Association. As the former executive director of Peerless Rockville for three decades, McGuckian is dedicated to preserving historic places for future generations.
festival registration form
EVENTS TIMELINE
festival Schedule
saturday, sept. 28, 2024
registration opens
A stellar check-in process sets the tone for the rest of your festival activities.
8:30 am – 12:30 pm
workshop A
Michelle Brafman & Margaret Talbot
9:00 am – 10:00 am
workshop b
Tope Folarin & Ethelbert Miller
10:15 am – 11:15 am
saturday, sept. 28, 2024
Welcome & Opening Remarks
Gary Berg-Cross and Festival Committee Members
11:25 am – 11:30 pm
A Conversation about Writing the Hard Stories
Jesmyn Ward and Kiese Laymon
11:30 am – 12:30 pm
Lunch Break
Purchased from festival or on your own.
12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
Keynote Talk
David Ignatius on “The Impossibility of Trying to Write a “Gatsbyesque” Novel…and Other Lessons from a Journo- Literary Career”
1:30 pm – 2:30 pm
saturday, sept. 28, 2024
awards ceremony
- Recognition of F. Scott Fitzgerald Scholars
- Introduction of Jesmyn Ward
- Presentation of the Annual F. Scott Fitzgerald Award for Achievement
In American Literature for 2024:
Jesmyn Ward - Acceptance & Reading
2:30 pm – 3:30 pm
esteemed author reception
Book Signing with Jesmyn Ward
3:30 pm – 4:00 pm
tuesday, may 7, 2024
5:30-7:30 PM
5:30-7:30 PM
annual membership meeting
A virtual gathering of festival members to discuss 2024 festival activities.
May 7, 2024
5:30-6:30 PM
5:30-6:30 PM
special virtual talk
Lecture by Dr. Carlyle Van Thompson
“Jay Gatsby, The Thrill Is Gone: The Great Gatsby, a Blues Narrative of Racial Passing”
“Jay Gatsby, The Thrill Is Gone: The Great Gatsby, a Blues Narrative of Racial Passing”
May 7, 2024
6:30-7:30 PM
6:30-7:30 PM