Over four days of programming on Tulane University’s Uptown campus, the New Orleans Book Festival attracted an estimated 20,0000 attendees over March 12-15, according to festival planners.
The festival featured over 250 authors and speakers, including former commander of U.S. forces in Iraq, Gen. David Petraeus, novelist Salman Rushdie, documentarian Ken Burns, feminist writer Roxane Gay, CNN anchor Anderson Cooper and podcaster Dax Shepard.
Now in its fifth year, Book Fest organizers gave away 5,000 free books to young readers in partnership with community organizations. Family Day of the festival on Sunday also featured over 20 children’s authors.
The event featured over 100 panels and sessions, many with overflow rooms and lines extending out the door. Book Fest attracted a record number of attendees this year, topping last year’s 18,000 attendees.
Over 35 journalists attended the festival. The festival also invited three actors, Bryan Batt, Dax Shepard and Nicole Richie.
Three university presidents also attended the festival, including Tulane University President Michael A. Fitts, Xavier University President Reynold Verret and Fordham University President Tania Tetlow.
Activist and Catholic nun Sister Helen Prejean is the only speaker who holds an official title from a religious organization.