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The Lexington Book Festival originated from a conversation between Pig City Books owner Sedley Abercrombie and a group of North Carolina authors attending an event at the store in December 2022. Over a cider, the group selected a date, Sedley recruited a group of book-loving friends, and the Lexington Book Festival was born.

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In March 2023, we were thrilled to welcome twenty authors including Annette Saunooke Clapsaddle, Alan Gratz, Jo Hackl, Charlie Lovett, Amber Smith, and Ed Southern, and an enthusiastic crowd of readers. An estimated 500 attendees came to the panels and events.

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In addition to panels, the inaugural festival included author signings, children's readings, and local vendors. 

After receiving positive feedback from the community, the coordinating committee decided to codify Lexington Book Festival as a nonprofit organization to intentionally bring together readers and writers.