WELCOME TO BOOK LOVERS!

The Twentynine Palms Book Festival invites readers, authors, publishers, and entertainment professionals to discover fresh voices and original stories in one of California’s most unexpected literary destinations—at the edge of the Mojave Desert.

Located just one hour from Palm Springs, three hours from Los Angeles and Las Vegas, and under four hours from Phoenix, Twentynine Palms is easy to reach yet pleasantly off the grid. The city offers a variety of lodging options—from classic desert motels and boutique hotels to character-filled short-term rentals—ideal for festival stays, book launches, and informal meetings.

Held November 13–15, the annual festival takes place during one of the desert’s most beautiful seasons, with clear skies, warm days, and cool evenings—perfect for outdoor readings, conversations under the stars, and relaxed encounters across town.

The festival pays homage to California as a source of stories. From desert adventures and road journeys to memoirs, crime fiction, Indigenous storytelling, and children’s literature, the program celebrates the many ways writers have captured the spirit and pioneer imagination of the Golden State.

Small in scale but rich in character, the Twentynine Palms Book Festival celebrates California’s storytelling traditions in the relaxed setting of a desert town that continues to inspire writers, artists, and travelers alike.

AGENDA

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Three people having a conversation indoors, with a black and white wall background. One man has gray hair and is wearing a beige jacket, another man has brown hair and is wearing a gray shirt, and a woman is wearing a black and white animal print jac
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People at book tables and booths in an indoor event, with shelves of books, a digital scoreboard, and a plant in the background.
People attending a fair at a booth with a blue tablecloth that has text promoting fairness and goodwill. A woman is sitting at the booth, talking to visitors while several people are browsing displayed materials. In the background, there's a large ca
An indoor book sale event with multiple bookshelves filled with books, people browsing and shopping, and a basketball court backstop with a digital scoreboard.
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A man with tattoos, glasses, and a black cap sitting at a table, writing on a piece of paper with a pen. There are other people with phones and notebooks on the table, and a water bottle in the foreground.

Press

Book Festival to Celebrate Desert Writing - The Hi-Desert Star

Desert Book Festival Shines Light on Twentynine Palms’ Literary Landscape - SB Sun

More press

See you in sunny Twentynine paLms

Visit us November 13-15, 2026 at the Twentynine Palms Community Center (Freedom Plaza)

6547 Freedom Wy, Twentynine Palms, CA 92277

The Twentynine Palms Book Festival is proudly supported by Visit 29 Palms.

Visit 29 Palms, Mojave Desert logo with palm trees and a rising sun.