Madison hosts book and science festivals

Posted by Samantha Haas on Wednesday, November 1st, 2017 at 9:07am.

There are more ways than ever this week in Madison to fill your brain with knowledge and curiosity. That's because the Wisconsin Book Festival and Wisconsin Science Festival are both being held throughout the city from November 2-5, which thousands of people are expected to attend.

This is the third year in a row that the festivals are happening at the same time, and there are over a dozen joint book events being held between the two, which the State Journal lists here. While the science festival events are also happening around the state, the book festival has grown so much in the past few years that other events are held throughout the year, culminating in this four-day celebration.

Science festival

 

Families can even get a preview of the science festival during Free Family Night at the Madison Children's Museum on Wednesday, November 1. There will be hands-on science activities for kids and adults, as well as a glassworking demonstration.

Many of the science festival events are being held at the Discovery Building, while others are held on location, like relief printmaking at Olbrich Botanical Gardens, learning the science of brewing at Karben4 Brewing, and science-themed tours at the new Alumni Park that will be illuminated after dark. There are also opportunities to observe a leaf-cutter ant colony, explore a sleep laboratory, and participate in STEM activities.

For a full list of events, visit wisconsinsciencefest.org.

Book festival

If you're itching to get your hands on books, the Friends of UW-Madison Libraries group is kicking off its used book sale early with a $5 entry preview sale on Wednesday, November 1, followed by two others by the Madison Public Library and Friends of the Cooperative Children's Book Center later in the week.

The 15th annual Wisconsin Book Festival, hosted by Madison Public Library and in partnership with the Madison Public Library Foundation, features over 70 different author events and panels being held in and around Central Library downtown.

"We will have the chance to learn more about topics that affect us all, whether it's policing, North Korea, immigration, climate change, gender, or jobs. Now more than ever, it is important to hear varied voices on diverse topics," director Conor Moran wrote on the event website.

Among the presenters are Wisconsin authors like Dan Egan, who will present on his book, "The Death and Life of the Great Lakes," at 7 p.m. Thursday, November 2, and Katie Vaughn, who will talk about her book, "100 Things to Do in Madison Before You Die," at 10:30 a.m. Sunday, November 5.

For a full list of events, visit wisconsinbookfestival.org.

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