L.A. Times Festival of Books 2016 kicks off Saturday

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Arianna Huffington, right, chats with Times columnist Robin Abcarian at the Festival of Books at USC’s Bovard Auditorium.

(Christina House / For The Times)

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Jasper Joseph, 13, of Santa Monica, dives into a book at the Festival of Books on the USC campus.

(Christina House / For The Times)

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Elizabeth Bernal browses through an aisle of books at the Festival of Books.

(Christina House / For The Times)

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The Los Angeles Times Book Prizes are awarded at the USC Bovard Auditorium. Poet Juan Felipe Herrera, center, accepts the Robert Kirsch Award from Patt Morrison and David Ulin.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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The Los Angeles Times Book Prizes are awarded at the USC Bovard Auditorium. Mystery/Thriller winner Don Winslow accepts his award from fellow author and former prosecutor Marcia Clark.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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The Los Angeles Times Book Prizes are awarded at the USC Bovard Auditorium. Author James Patterson speaks after receiving the Innovator’s Award.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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The Los Angeles Times Book Prizes are awarded at the USC Bovard Auditorium. Winners and presenters gather for a group photo.

(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

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Attendees gather in excitement as Buzz Aldrin, author of “No Dream Is Too High: Life Lessons From a Man Who Walked on the Moon,” is interviewed by Carolyn Kellogg during the 2016 Festival of Books.

(Mariah Tauger / For The Times)

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Buzz Aldrin, author of “No Dream Is Too High: Life Lessons From a Man Who Walked on the Moon,” is interviewed by Carolyn Kellogg during the 2016 Festival of Books.

(Mariah Tauger / For The Times)

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Festival attendees cheer as Stan Lee gives an interview during the Festival of Books.

(Mariah Tauger / For The Times)

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Stan Lee, author of “Amazing Fantastic Incredible: A Marvelous Memoir,” is interviewed by Jevon Phillips during the 2016 Festival of Books.

(Mariah Tauger / For The Times)

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Jonathan and Drew Scott, authors of “Dream Home: The Property Brothers Ultimate Guide to Finding & Fixing Your Perfect House,” are interviewed by Yvonne Villarreal during the 2016 Festival of Books at USC.

(Mariah Tauger / For The Times)

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A crowd gathers to listen to the Property Brothers -- Jonathan and Drew Scott -- at the Festival of Books.

(Mariah Tauger / For The Times)

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Padma Lakshmi, author of “Love, Loss, and What We Ate: A Memoir,” is interviewed by Noelle Carter at the 2016 L.A. Times Festival of Books.

(Mariah Tauger / For The Times)

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Festival attendees wait at a book signing at the 2016 L.A. Times Festival of Books.

(Mariah Tauger / For The Times)

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Scarlette Lutz and her mother, Chris, read a book during the L.A. Times Festival of Books at USC.

(Mariah Tauger / For The Times)

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Kristie Sham fixes her hair before posing in front of a newly painted wall during the 2016 L.A. Times Festival of Books.

(Mariah Tauger / For The Times)

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Roland Appleby takes a stroll on his father Ben’s shoulders during the 2016 L.A. Times Festival of Books on the USC campus.

(Mariah Tauger / For The Times)

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Local artist Michele Peabody Myers works on a piece during the 2016 L.A. Times Festival of Books at USC.

(Mariah Tauger / For The Times)

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Alex Quintero, 3, looks overs a farm animal book.

(Mariah Tauger / For The Times)

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Festival-goers visit Red Barn Collections.

(Mariah Tauger / For The Times)

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Festival attendees throw a little paint on a wall during the 2016 Festival of Books at USC.

(Mariah Tauger / For The Times)

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Not wanting his newly painted face to get wet, Xavier Alvarez cruises the festival under an umbrella during the 2016 Festival of Books on Saturday.

(Mariah Tauger / For The Times)

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The USC marching band kicks off the start of the Festival of Books on Saturday

(Mariah Tauger / For The Times)

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Joanna Kim, 6, finds a quiet spot to read during the Festival of Books on Saturday.

(Mariah Tauger / For The Times)

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Festival attendees watch the USC Trojan marching band during the 2016 L.A. Times Festival of Books on Saturday.

(Mariah Tauger / For The Times)

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Attendees browse at Book Soup during the 2016 L.A. Times Festival of Books on Saturday at the USC campus.

(Mariah Tauger / For The Times)

By Taylor Goldenstein

April 9, 2016 10:43 AM PT

The 21st annual Los Angeles Times Festival of Books kicked off Saturday at the USC campus, featuring more than 500 authors, celebrities, musicians and chefs who will be sharing their love of books during the weekend.

The two-day festival — the nation’s largest — will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. All events — which include workshops, book readings, lectures and concerts — are free.

This year’s lineup includes former astronaut Buzz Aldrin, U.S. poet laureate Juan Felipe Herrera, “Top Chef” host Padma Lakshmi, YA author Ransom Riggs, religious scholar Reza Aslan and Newbery Award winner Kwame Alexander.

Literary enthusiasts can purchase tickets online, at $30 and up, for talks on Sunday led by speakers Carrie Brownstein and Arianna Huffington as part of the L.A. Times Ideas Exchange Series.

Hundreds of exhibitors will be selling merchandise and — you guessed it — books, books and more books.

Festival-goers also can enjoy live music, cooking demonstrations, Q&A sessions, children’s activities, travel talks, poetry readings and live street art.

The event’s schedule includes more than 100 discussions on a wide variety of topics, including California’s role in the presidential race, the art of the short story and science, technology and the human condition.

Some events require free tickets, which can be obtained online or at the festival’s ticketing booth.

Parking is available for $12 at various USC lots, or for $20 Saturday and $15 Sunday in Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Lots 1 and 2. Free shuttle service is provided from the USC Parking Center at 35th Street and Grand Avenue and Coliseum Lot 2.

Because of the Azusa Now religious gathering at the Coliseum, Festival of Books organizers are encouraging festival-goers to use public transportation. Metro riders will receive a 10% discount on merchandise, including mugs and T-shirts.

Cloudy skies and intermittent showers are expected throughout opening day, with temperatures hovering in the mid-60s.

For more information, including the festival schedule, lineup and a map, see events.latimes.com/festivalofbooks.

Follow our live coverage here.

taylor.goldenstein@latimes.com

Twitter: @taygoldenstein

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Taylor Goldenstein

Taylor Goldenstein is a former reporter with the Los Angeles Times Data Desk. She has previously written for the Chicago Tribune, Tampa Bay Times and the Arizona Republic, among other publications. In early 2014, she was a visiting fellow at the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard. Originally from a suburb of Chicago and a graduate of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, she now looks forward to checking weather apps. She left The Times in 2016.

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