On Saturday, Sept. 2, the 17th Library of Congress National Book Festival gets underway at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. Open to the public, the event is a grand gathering of literary stars, from book authors and poets to illustrators. This year, presenters and publishing attendees include Condoleezza Rice, Tom Friedman, David Baldacci, Kwame Alexander, Sidney Blumenthal, Thomas Oliphant, Lisa Ko, Alice McDermott and Siddhartha Mukherjee.

Multiple stages make for a vibrant event, with Main Stage author presentations appearing live on Facebook. While you’re there, explore the inner workings of the world’s largest library at the Library of Congress Pavilion, and visit the exposition floor on the convention center’s lower level for a wide range of family-friendly activities. Parking is first-come, first-served, but you can leave the car behind. Public transportation options to the convention center include the Mount Vernon Square Metro station on the Yellow and Green Lines.