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LitFest in the Dena brings bookworms to Pasadena for readings, tea and camaraderie
Panel speakers address an audience at LitFest in the Dena in 2024. The event returns this weekend at the Pasadena Presbyterian Church.
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Courtesy Light Bringer Project
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Book lovers will gather in Pasadena this weekend for LitFest in the Dena.
It’s a free literary festival that brings together local authors and bookworms for readings, panels, tea-sipping and more. The festival kicked off today, and this year’s theme is "Books that Teach Us About Character."
Tom Coston — board chair of the Light Bringer project, which organizes the festival — says the theme ties in with what people experienced during the wildfires.
“We saw how horrible the tragedy was. But we heard about unbelievable acts of kindness and community support among neighbors and friends, people facing their own losses, coming to the aid of others, working together,” said Coston. “The event is necessarily going to touch upon that.”
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A panel led by students from the Pasadena Unified School District called “Unsinged by Flames: Dena Students Unite” will talk about the wildfire from their experience.
Other panels include "Queer Speculative Stories," "Punk Meets Prose" and "Pasadena as a Character."
Check out the full festival lineup here.
And LAist’s Nereida Moreno spoke with Coston about the festival. Here’s the full conversation.
Listen
• 4:09
Missed the LA Times Festival of Books? Check out LitFest in the Dena this weekend
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