Kicking off a month-long celebration of literature!
Join us as we transform the ground floor of The Arcade into our inaugural Cleveland Book Fest book fair featuring 20 + bookstores and literary partners. Get ready to shop for books, book-related merch, and learn more about literary programs happening across the city throughout the month of September.
Featured Vendors
Anisfield-Wolf Book Awards: Since 1935, the distinguished books earning Anisfield-Wolf prizes have opened and challenged our minds. Today it remains the only American book prize focusing on works that address racism and diversity.
Cleveland Public Library: Cleveland Public Library is The People’s University, the center of learning for a diverse and inclusive community. Our vision is a city in which opportunity is within reach and a Library that empowers its people.
Cuyahoga County Public Library: Cuyahoga County Public Library’s mission is to empower individuals and communities by providing opportunities for all to read, learn, create and connect. We envision a thriving and inclusive Cuyahoga County where all residents benefit from and are inspired by Cuyahoga County Public Library’s innovative resources, services, and programs.
The City Club of Cleveland: The City Club of Cleveland is one of the nation’s great free speech forums. A product of the Progressive Era, we were founded in 1912 and are one of the nation’s oldest continuous independent free speech forums, renowned for our tradition of debate and discussion.
Great Lakes African American Writers Conference: Get ready for the Great Lakes African American Writers Conference 2026—a vibrant, in-person gathering celebrating Black voices in literature!
Lake Erie Ink: Lake Erie Ink is a creative writing space where young people discover their voices, build confidence, and connect through storytelling.
Literary Cleveland: Literary Cleveland is a nonprofit organization and creative writing center that empowers people to explore other voices and discover their own.
The Checkered Shelf: The Checkered Shelf is a new bookshop located in the Cedar Fairmount district of Cleveland Heights. We aim to provide a book for every reader and be a place to find your community.
Cleveland Review of Books: The Cleveland Review of Books is a journal of criticism in many forms. We publish reviews, essays, interviews, and experiments in critical writing. We also publish fiction, poetry, and excerpts of titles from small and independent publishers.
Fireside Book Shop: Fireside Book Shop has been a beloved staple of the Chagrin Falls, Ohio community since 1963. Women-owned and independently operated, we have three floors of new and gently used books to explore, as well as games, gifts, cards, and more.
Hexagon Books: We are an independent bookstore and language school specializing in minority and foreign authors. Our mission is to foster cultural diversity through books and language instruction.
Illuminating Our Voices: Workshops centering the creativity of People of Color. Every writing prompt. Every reading. Every day.
Kids Book Bank: The Kids’ Book Bank provides free books to children through collaboration with our community partners to foster literacy and a love of reading to build their in-home libraries.
Mac’s Backs Books: Mac’s Backs Books has new & used books, magazines, cards and gifts. We are moving across the street to 1807 Coventry Rd in October, 2026.
Nightlight Books: Nightlight Books is a D/disability justice centered, cooperatively owned bookstore and the first in the US to focus on books by and about D/disabled peoples
Ohio Celebrates Toni Morrison: From February 18, 2026 through February 18, 2027, Ohio will celebrate the life, literature, and legacy of Toni Morrison, Lorain, Ohio native and the first African American woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature. This project is designed and led by Literary Cleveland with Ohio Humanities, Ohioana Library Association, and the Toni Morrison Society.
Ohio Center for the Book: The Ohio Center for the Book at Cleveland Public Library promotes literacy, reading, and Ohio authors. It advocates for comics as a unique medium of expression, hosts the “Lineage and Legacy of Superman” exhibit, and is Ohio’s affiliate of the Center for the Book at the Library of Congress.
Parallel Universe Books: With a specialization in sci-fi, fantasy, romantasy, horror, and RPG books, Parallel Universe Bookstore offers a meticulously chosen assortment for readers of all ages, accommodating newcomers and long-time fans.
The Reading Room CLE: The Reading Room CLE is a nonprofit bookstore that collects donated books and re-sells them; we use the profits to offer literary and literacy programs.
Rust Belt Humanities Lab: Rust Belt Humanities Lab tells the story of the region through its people. Our open-access publication, Rust Belt Studies, contributes to an infrastructure of storytelling and public engagement in the region.
ThirdSpace Reading Room: We are a Black-owned bookstore in the Glenville neighborhood of Cleveland, Ohio. Our mission is to create the next generation of free thinkers.
The Wandering Lantern: The Wandering Lantern is Lakewood’s cozy children’s bookstore and creative gathering space, offering thoughtfully chosen books, gifts, readings, workshops, parties, and community connection for families.