Miami, Nov. 8, 2023 – Miami Dade College’s (MDC) Miami Book Fair (MBF) will kick off its 40th anniversary celebration on Sunday, Nov. 12, including headliners Kerry Washington, Eva Longoria, Joan Baez, Jada Pinkett Smith and Lena Waithe, among others. The celebration will include an Opening Day Block Party featuring Grammy-winning DJ and producer Louie Vega from 5 – 9 p.m. at the MDC Wolfson Campus plaza. The Block Party is free and open to the public.
The nephew of salsa legend Hector Lavoe, Vega has performed in Ibiza, Barcelona, Italy, Los Angeles, Amsterdam, Chicago, Washington, D.C., and other major cities around the world. Backed by NYC percussion and keyboards, Vega will seamlessly blend classics, house, afro-beat, jazz, hip-hop, salsa, gospel, and soul into entirely new beats and rhythms that are uniquely his own. While grooving to the music, partygoers can indulge their taste buds at the pop-up food and drinks market, Smorgasburg Miami, renowned for its lovingly crafted culinary delights. Don’t miss the chance to celebrate with books and dance under the Magic City’s stars at the MDC Wolfson Campus in downtown Miami.
Other Opening Day events:
Sunday, Nov. 12 at 4 p.m.
An Afternoon with Kerry Washington in Conversation with Eva Longoria
In Thicker than Water, Kerry Washington provides an intimate view into her public and private worlds – as an artist, advocate, entrepreneur, mother, daughter, wife, and Black woman. Chronicling her upbringing and life’s journey thus far, she reveals how she faced a series of challenges and setbacks, effectively hid childhood traumas, and crossed the threshold into stardom and political advocacy. Sponsored by Florida International University.
Sunday, Nov. 12 at 5:30 p.m.
An Evening with Jada Pinkett Smith in Conversation with Lena Waithe
In Worthy, Jada Pinkett Smith reveals her unconventional upbringing in Baltimore – from the child of two addicts to a promising theater student to a violent interlude as a petty drug dealer – followed by a parallel rise to stardom alongside her close friend, Tupac Shakur; falling in love with and marrying Will Smith; and her joyous embrace of motherhood. Joining Pinkett Smith to discuss her book is actor, producer, and Emmy-winning writer Lena Waithe.
Sunday, Nov. 12 at 7 p.m.
An Evening with Joan Baez in Conversation with Justin Richmond
Since retiring from active performing, legendary singer and social justice activist Joan Baez has focused her formidable talents on painting and drawing, and this collection of her work – lovingly loose and charming sketches on recurring themes such as politics, relationships, women, animals, and family – shows another, insightful side of her. Joining Baez to discuss her book is Broken Record podcast host Justin Richmond.
WLRN is once again the presenting sponsor of this year’s Evenings With series. Other sponsors include the Greater Miami Convention and Visitor’s Bureau (Block Party), Florida International University (Kerry Washington) and the Green Family Foundation (Joan Baez).
To purchase tickets for author presentations and for more information, visit www.miamibookfair.com, or call 305-237-3528 or email wbookfair@mdc.edu.
Follow the Miami Book Fair on social media @miamibookfair.
#MBF2023 #MiamiReads
About Miami Book Fair
Founded in 1984 by Miami Dade College and partners, Miami Book Fair engages the community through inclusive, accessible programs that promote reading and support writers year-round. The annual eight-day festival has grown into the largest and most comprehensive community-rooted literary gathering in the United States generating discourse on contemporary literature and current issues of international importance. Throughout the rest of the year, Miami Book Fair responds hosts an ongoing schedule of activities, including The Little Haiti Book Festival; creative writing and publishing workshops; author presentations; reading campaigns; and Read to Learn Books for Free, a partnership with The Children’s Trust that distributes more than 150,000 free books a year to children in Miami-Dade County. Miami Book Fair programming is made possible through generous support from the State of Florida and the National Endowment for the Arts; City of Miami; Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs and the Cultural Affairs Council; Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners; Miami-Dade County Public Schools; Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau; Miami Downtown Development Authority; and Friends of the Fair; as well as many corporate partners. Miami Book Fair: Building community, one reader at a time.
Miami Book Fair contact: Lisa Palley, Palley Promotes, 305-642-3132, lpalley@bellsouth.net.