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Literary Festival
Dahlonega Literary Festival
March 7, 2026
Held annually in early March, the Dahlonega Literary Festival is a free, family-friendly celebration of storytelling, knowledge, and culture nestled in the heart of the North Georgia mountains.
This weekend-long event brings together regional and local authors for engaging panel discussions, thought-provoking presentations, and intimate book signings.
“Celebrating the Power of Storytelling in a Small-town Setting, “is the theme of the 2026
Dahlonega Literary Festival (DLF), Saturday, March 7th. This is the 22nd annual festival and will be a day filled with events appealing to fans if various genres of fiction and non-fiction writing, featuring 20 authors including some favorite returning authors, some first-time author to DLF and three who are launching new books in March. Also returning, is the ever popular 9:00 a.m. “Crime/murder panel.
“Our festival has a small-town, relaxed atmosphere where everyone can interact casually. Authors and attendees tell us that is one of their favorite things about out event,” says Donna Gessell, chairperson of DLF. All session will be at the Holly Theater, 59 West Main St., Dahlonega (with book sales and signings next door at Canopy & and the Roots, 53 West Main St.)
All events are free except the Headliner event at 4:30 p.m. with beloved author Joshilyn Jackson. The award-winning best-selling New York Times author launches her new novel, Missing Sister. A ticket to the event includes a first-edition signed hardback copy of the book (personalized if desired). Tickets are $35 and can be purchased on DLF’s website – literaryfestiva.org. Jackson is a favorite of DLF and has been a Featured Author several times.
Robert Gwaltney’s second novel, Sing Down the Moon, debuts in early March and is being compared to beloved Georgia author Flannery O’Connor’s writing. Plus, the paperback version of Steve Oney’s epic book about National Public Radio, On Air: The Triumph and Tumult of NPR, comes out in March. Returning authors with new books are Jacob Appel, Carolyn Curry, Jerry Grillo, Ann Hite, Stacia Pelletier, William Rawlings and William Walsh.
First-time authors are Gregory Ariail, Dr. Martha Boone, Valerie (V.M.) Burns, Dr. Dhaval Desai, Ralph Ellis, Debra Goldstein, Robert Gwaltney, Terri Parlato, Judith L. Pearson, and Dr. Mimi Zieman.
For more information about the authors and their books www.literaryfestival.org to "2026 Featured Authors." A schedule of events is also availble on the website
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