Festival Experience
A Full Day Built for Every Kind of Story
One day. One venue. Every form of storytelling — from picture books to documentary film.
The Grand Theatre · Tracy, California · October 2026
The Day at a Glance
The festival runs from morning through evening, with programming designed for families, students, readers, and arts lovers of all ages. Every hour of the day has something worth staying for.
Doors Open & Morning Story Time
Lobby & GalleriesFamilies and young readers gather in the lobby for morning story time with local children's authors and illustrators. The day begins with the youngest storytellers in the room.
Author Alley Opens
Galleries & LoggiaBrowse, meet, and purchase directly from authors, illustrators, poets, and independent publishers. Author Alley runs all day — the heart of the festival floor.
Midday Panels & Conversations
Eleni Kounalakis TheatreModerated conversations on craft, community, and the power of storytelling. Topics span fiction, journalism, education, and the intersection of art and social change.
Workshops & Breakout Sessions
Arts Education StudiosHands-on sessions for writers, educators, and students. From picture book illustration to documentary storytelling, these intimate workshops go deep.
Afternoon Spoken Word Stage
Studio TheatrePoets, spoken word artists, and songwriters take the stage for an afternoon of performed storytelling. Open mic slots available for community voices.
Evening Author Talks & Keynote
Eleni Kounalakis TheatreThe day closes with featured author talks and a keynote address in the main theatre — a celebration of stories and the communities they build.
Venue & Site Plan
Five Spaces. One Day. Every Kind of Story.
The Grand Theatre's multi-space layout makes it uniquely suited for a full-day literary festival. Each zone runs its own programming track — select a space below to explore what happens there.
Select a Space
Eleni Kounalakis Theatre
Capacity
~500 seats
The Grand Theatre's primary performance hall — the largest and most formal space. This is where the festival opens and closes, where keynote authors speak, and where the biggest panel conversations happen.
Programming in This Space
- Opening ceremony
- Keynote author talks
- Featured panel discussions
- Spoken word & poetry showcase
- Closing ceremony & awards
Atmosphere — Formal, high-energy, the marquee experience
Who You'll Meet
Every Storyteller Has a Place Here
The Greater Central Valley Book Fest brings together storytellers from every discipline — because stories take more forms than any single shelf can hold.
Authors & Writers
Fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and children's literature
Illustrators
Picture books, graphic novels, and editorial art
Playwrights & Theater
Stage storytelling and dramatic writing
Filmmakers
Documentary, short film, and visual narrative
Spoken Word Artists
Poetry, performance, and the spoken page
Songwriters & Musicians
Songs as stories, lyrics as literature
Photographers
Visual storytelling and documentary photography
Journalists & Podcasters
Reporting, narrative nonfiction, and audio storytelling
Educators & Librarians
The people who put stories in young hands
Want to Be Part of It?
Whether you're a venue partner, sponsor, author, or community organization — there's a role for you in building this festival.