When does the festival open and close?

Doors to the Central Library will open at 9 a.m. on Saturday, October 12, and the festival closes at 4 p.m.

How do I get to the festival?

The Central Library at 14 W. 10th Street in downtown Kansas City, Missouri, is well-served by public transit, including the KC Streetcar. You can plan your trip on the Ride KC website.

Parking for the festival is free (with parking ticket validation*) at the Central Library parking garage at 10th Street and Baltimore. The entrance to the garage is on Baltimore between 9th and 10th streets.

*You will receive a parking ticket at the garage on arrival. Please bring the ticket inside the Library for validation. Follow all signage and staff instructions to ensure that you are not charged.

What if I didn’t get a ticket to a specific festival program?

There are a few things you can do:

• Sign up for the waitlist for that program on Eventbrite. If an RSVP is released before the festival, each space will be given to the waitlist on a first-come, first-served basis.

• Visit the Central Library on October 12 without a ticket. Line up if you don’t have a ticket, and staff will admit you into a program if there are empty seats or if standing room is available.

• Enjoy the festival activities on October 12 that don’t require a ticket, such as children’s activities and grab and go craft kits in the 2nd floor Children’s Library, a 2nd floor bookstore alley with Kansas City area independent bookstores, and a large 3rd floor vendor hall featuring local organizations and authors.

• And, of course, grab some free Heartland Book Festival goodies!

Will any of the programs be available to watch virtually?

The following programs will be livestreamed on the Kansas City Public Library’s YouTube channel and will be available to view from home at any time after the event.

• Taylor Swift Style: Fashion Through the Eras by Sarah Chapelle

• Tommy Orange (Wandering Stars) and Deborah Jackson Taffa (Whiskey Tender: A Memoir)

• Stacey Abrams on the Importance of Libraries

What Central Library services are available – or not available – during the festival?

The following services WILL be available on October 12:

• Book check-outs

• Circulation Desk (1st floor) and Youth Services (2nd floor) account assistance

• Chat and telephone reference

• Missouri Valley Room

The following services will NOT be available:

• Tech Services

• Public computers and printing

• Microfilm

I’m a local author/vendor — how can I participate?

Thanks so much for your interest in the festival! Local author and vendor applications closed on September 1. Please sign up for the festival mailing list to be notified when applications go live in future years.