By Gazette Staff
October 6th, 2025
BURLINGTON, ON
Library announces speakers at free annual Burlington Literary Festival
Now in its fifth year, the Burlington Public Library announces the Burlington Literary Festival lineup.
BurlLITFest is a celebration of authors, books, and creativity that runs the entire month of November—and it’s FREE to attend!
Last year’s events filled up quickly, so mark your calendar for Wednesday, October 15 at noon, when registration for this year’s festival opens.
This 5th anniversary edition showcases a stellar array of talent, kicking off with a double-header event featuring two internationally acclaimed novelists: Iona Whishaw, on tour with her latest Lane Winslow mystery, and Alyson Richman, author of The Missing Pages. Every week is packed with free events with some of Canada’s foremost literary luminaries, including Joy Fielding, Robert J. Sawyer, Miriam Toews, and Souvankham Thammavongsa.
BurlLITFest also features insightful talks with distinguished thought leaders like Anishinaabe author Patty Krawec, Bad Indians Book Club, investigative journalist Rick Westhead, We Breed Lions, and disability advocate Jessica Slice, Unfit Parent.
“Our 5th anniversary festival promises to be a truly memorable event for our book-loving community,” says Burlington Public Library CEO Lita Barrie. “As a library, nothing brings us greater joy than bringing readers of all ages together to share the wonder of stories, connect with one another, and discover something new. We’re so grateful to Burlington readers for your continued enthusiasm and support, which makes it all possible.”
Further highlights include a celebratory talk about one of the world’s most beloved authors, Jane Austen, a lively panel of local children’s authors, and writing workshops for adults and kids.
The festival caps off with the popular BurlLITFest Open Mic event. This is a fantastic opportunity for writers of all levels—from novice to professional—to take the stage and share their literary talent!
Event Lineup
BurlLITFest features a diverse range of speakers and promises something for everyone! All events are free to attend, and a Burlington Public Library Card is not required. Register online through our BurlLITFest web page.
Author Talks
- In Conversation with Iona Whishaw, November 2
- In Conversation with Alyson Richman, November 2
- Master of Suspense Joy Fielding, November 4
- Parenthood & Disability with Jessica Slice, November 9
- Robert J. Sawyer on Science Fiction, November 10
- Rick Westhead on Hockey Culture, November 12
- From Horror Story to Horror Film with Edo van Belkom, November 15
- Celebrating Jane Austen’s 250th with Catherine Little, November 16
- In Conversation with Patty Krawec, November 17
- A Novel Approach to Children’s Stories with Lana Button, Jennifer Maruno and Sylvia McNicoll, November 20
- An Afternoon with Adnan Khan, November 22
- An Evening with Miriam Toews, November 24
- Meet Souvankham Thammavongsa, November 27
- BurlLITFest Open Mic, November 30
Writing Workshops
- Hybrid Self-Publishing Workshop with Christiane Banks, November 9
- How to Beat Writer’s Block with Anna Chatterton, November 23
- Writing A Children’s Novel with Sylvia McNicoll, November 23
Kids Events
- Drawing Your Emotions with Jennifer Faria, November 8
- Creative Collage with Jessica Rose, November 26
Library Speakers Consortium Partner Events
Tune in to top authors from around the world at live virtual events presented by BPL’s digital resource, Library Speakers Consortium. Guest authors appearing in November are Aquinnah Wampanoag writer Joseph Lee on Indigenous identity in today’s world, and award-winning Mi’kmaq-Canadian novelist Amanda Peters, author of The Berry Pickers.
Mark the date! Registration for BurlLITFest events opens at noon on Wednesday, October 15. Avoid disappointment and register early. All events are free and open to all.
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