The Paw Print

By Rehan Mathew Koshy, Staff Writer

Chicago is known for being home to some of the biggest attractions. The Willis Tower, the Chicago Auto Show and the Chicago Marathon are only a few of the many achievements the Windy City holds when it comes to hosting and having some of the largest, most iconic landmarks and events. One of these attractions, although often overlooked, is the largest literary festival in the Midwest: the Printers Row Lit Fest.

On September 6 and 7, from 10 AM to 6 PM, the iconic Printers Row neighborhood in downtown Chicago hosted its 40th annual literary festival. Situated between Ida B. Wells Drive and Polk Street, this festival hosted more than 70 live programs, over 100 independent booksellers, several Pulitzer Prize winners, numerous literary organizations, countless tents and booths, and so much more. The event attracted thousands of visitors, many of whom came to listen to the special guest speakers. Sandra Cisneros, award-winning author of The House on Mango Street, was the keynote speaker and headliner of this year’s festival.

The tables were stacked with books of all genres — nonfiction, science fiction, fantasy, romance, classics, and so on. Various literary organizations set up booths to inform readers about prevalent issues regarding literature, such as the difficult process of publishing a book and the banning of books. Numerous authors set up similar tables, displaying their compilations and offering autographs.

The event was a huge success, with bibliophiles swarming the streets for hours on end. The festival also incorporated several kid-centered activities in order to keep the children entertained. All in all, it was quite nice to see people of all races and cultures come together over their love for literature.