The Southwest Florida Reading Festival is Saturday, March 6, 2027, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Fort Myers Regional Library. Free, with a free book for kids.

Last checked Oct. 8, 2026. The date, hours and parking come from the Southwest Florida Reading Festival, produced by the Lee County Library System. This page is updated each year at the same address.

The Southwest Florida Reading Festival is Saturday, March 6, 2027, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Fort Myers Regional Library, 2450 First St., in the downtown River District. It is free. Best-selling authors talk about their books on several stages and sign copies, storytellers work with the children, and every child and teen goes home with a free book. The festival says 2027 is its 28th year.

Know before you go

  • When: Saturday, March 6, 2027, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
  • Where: Fort Myers Regional Library, 2450 First St.
  • Cost: free; a free book for every child and teen
  • Parking: free on downtown streets on weekends; Main Street garage $1 an hour, $10 a day maximum
  • Organizer: Lee County Library System, readfest.org

What happens at the festival

The festival’s attend page lists:

  • Author talks on multiple stages, where visiting authors talk about their latest books and how they found the story.
  • Book sales and signings. Buy a book on site and have the author personalize it.
  • A free book for every child and teen.
  • Storytellers, crafts, readings, drawings and other family activities.
  • Food: Jason’s Deli sells box lunches, alongside other food vendors.
  • A festival app with the day’s schedule, and a festival store selling souvenir T-shirts.

The 2027 authors

The 2027 lineup had not been posted when we checked on Oct. 8, 2026. The festival announces its featured authors on its authors page, which also lists the hundreds of authors who have appeared since the festival began. Authors come by invitation.

In the run-up to the festival, the library system also holds extras listed on the events page: an Evening with the Authors dinner with the featured authors, Meet the Author talks (free, with registration) and the Aspiring Authors writing contest for students at Lee County schools. Before the 2026 festival, an Instagram contest gave away All-Star Passes with reserved front-row seats at every author talk and a place at the front of the signing lines.

Parking and getting there

The festival’s parking guidance:

  • Street parking in downtown Fort Myers is free on weekends.
  • Main Street garage, 2286 Main St., entrances on Main Street: $1 an hour up to $10 a day, cash or card.
  • Accessible parking for vehicles with a valid placard is at First Presbyterian Church on Second Street, directly across from the festival.

The library sits on First Street in the River District. No road closures are listed for the festival. For more on the area, see our River District guide.

What to know

  • Cash or card: bring a card for books; the 2026 Meet the Author events took credit cards only for book sales.
  • Lines: signing lines form after each talk, so plan your day around the authors you most want to meet once the schedule is out.
  • Volunteers: the library system recruits festival volunteers on its volunteer page.
  • News: sign up for the festival’s e-newsletter on readfest.org to hear when the authors are announced.

The Edison Festival of Light parades and ArtFest Fort Myers come to downtown in February; see our Edison Festival of Light guide and ArtFest guide. For more, kids activities in Fort Myers and things to do.

Frequently asked questions

When is the Southwest Florida Reading Festival 2027?

Saturday, March 6, 2027, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Fort Myers Regional Library, 2450 First St., according to the festival.

Is the Southwest Florida Reading Festival free?

Yes. The festival says it is free to the public, and every child and teen gets a free book.

Where do I park for the Southwest Florida Reading Festival?

Street parking downtown is free on weekends. The Main Street garage at 2286 Main St. charges $1 an hour up to $10 a day, and placard parking is at First Presbyterian Church on Second Street, across from the festival.

Who runs the Southwest Florida Reading Festival?

The Lee County Library System produces it. The festival says 2027 is its 28th year.

Which authors are coming to the 2027 Reading Festival?

The 2027 authors had not been announced on Oct. 8, 2026. The festival posts them on its authors page, which also lists past featured authors.