If you’re anything like us, you probably have a few dog-eared and wine-stained Litquake festival guides tucked into your bookshelves.
Every Bay Area resident with a love for words has memories of this beloved local festival—whether that's seeing your favorite author or strutting along Valencia Street with the hordes of Lit Crawlers at the huge, free pop-up event on the festival's final night.
2025 marks a quarter-century for San Francisco’s literary festival. It will be the first with Norah Piehl as executive director, taking over for Jane Ganahl and Jack Boulware who grew the event from sassy and scrappy. (Full disclosure, I was on the organizing committee many years ago when the early-stage planning meetings took place in the window seats at the Tenderloin’s Edinburgh Castle). Litquake has continued to evolve with the times while embracing the Bay Area's deep literary roots.
This year’s 16-day festival has something for every reader and writer, including some fresh new voices and venues, and more events in the East Bay. We can't wait to kick off the festival at the Booksellers Ball at Club Fugazi (Thursday, October 10) with DJ Lead Teddy and lit-themed drag performances.
Here are a few events that caught our eye on this year's schedule (October 10-26).
Author Michelle Tea helps bring the witchy vibes on October 12 at The Lost Church.(Hadley Rosenbaum)
Modern Magic with Michelle Tea
If magical and witchy is your Fall vibe, join this evening of spells and stories at The Lost Church. Think bewitching beverages (c/o Julia Halina Hada’s Witchcraft Cocktails), inspiring tarot with author Rana Tahir, and an enchanted convo between literary icon and self-described “DIY witch" Michelle Tea and Diana Helmuth, author of The Witching Hour. Michelle’s new book, Modern Magic, is a companion to her recent classic, Modern Tarot. // 8:15pm Sunday October 12 at The Lost Church, 988 Columbus Ave. (North Beach); more info and tickets ($18 / $15 early bird through 10/6) at thelostchurch.org
Porchlight Storytelling: Touched by an Angel
We all have memories of inspiring people but it's doubtful they are as hilarious and heartfelt as the ones you’ll hear at Porchlight, the Bay Area’s long-running storytelling series co-hosted by Arline Klatte and Beth Lisick. This special edition—with stories of mentors, teachers, guardians, and influencers—will feature Litquake co-founder Jack Boulware and authors Nico Lang (American Teenager), Adam Nimoy (The Most Human: Reconciling with My Father), Eugene Rodriguez (Bird of Four Hundred Voices), Dawn Silva (The Funk Queen), and Christina Vo (My Vietnam, Your Vietnam). // 7:30pm Tuesday, October 14 at Swedish American Hall, 2174 Market St. (Duboce Triangle); info and tickets ($20 advance/$25 at door) at ticketweb.com
Shortcomings Screening and Q&A with Adrian Tomine
Shortcomings (the graphic novel and the film) is such a delightful read/watch for Bay Area locals, especially those who love our (remaining) local independent movie theaters. In celebration of the newly published screenplay, Oakland’s New Parkway will screen the film, followed by a conversation between Adrian Tomine and Andrew Farago, curator of the Cartoon Art Museum in SF. It's a perfect night for film buffs, comics fans—and don’t miss the impressive popcorn topping options at the theater. // 6:30pm Wednesday October 16 at The New Parkway Theater, 474 24th St. (Oakland); $15-20 suggested donation, more info at litquake.org
Shortcomings by Adrian Tomine is at the center of Litquake's event at The New Parkway on October 16.(Courtesy of @adriantomine)
Poetry World Series: Litquake Edition
Baseball and poetry may not seem like a natural fit, but you might change your mind after seeing two teams of award-winning poets (including Armen Davoudian, Luiza Flynn-Goodlett, Cindy Ok, Joseph Rios, Mimi Tempestt, and Dashaun Washington) take turns batting at topics pitched to them by the audience. Local literary luminaries Daniel Handler will play emcee, as Andrew Sean Greer and Brynn Saito act as umpires. Don’t forget to bring a topic to stump the poets with. // 7pm Saturday, October 19 at Make-Out Room, 3225 22nd St. (Mission); tickets ($17 advance/$20 at door) at litquake.org
Cellophane Bricks: Jonathan Lethem with Rita Bullwinkel
Lethem’s latest book, Cellophane Bricks: A Life in Visual Culture, is a new and intriguing twist for fans, bringing together his art-writing with full-color images from the author’s own collection. His conversation with local author Rita Bullwinkel, whose most recent book Headshot was one of President Obama’s top picks of the year, will explore Lethem's meditations on comics and graffiti, collaborations around visual culture, and more. // 7pm Monday, October 21 at City Lights Booksellers, 261 Columbus Ave. (North Beach); free, more info at citylights.com
Literary Speakeasy: Dragging Celebrity Autobiographies
Darling, there’s simply no way not to have the best night listening to a premiere cast of Bay Area drag superstars celebrating the most scandalous and hilarious celebrity memoirs and autobiographies. Join hosts James J. Siegel and Elsa Touché for this outrageous evening of laughs and prizes. // 7pm Tuesday, October 22 at Oasis, 298 11th St. (SoMa); info and tickets ($25 general/$30 premium runway seating) at litquake.org
Dragging Celebrity Autobiographies on October 22 at Oasis.(Courtesy of Litquake)
