2025 FESTIVAL HIGHLIGHTS

The Twentynine Palms Book Festival returns for its third edition from November 7–9, 2025, as a three-day celebration of storytelling, creativity, and the unique heritage of the Mojave Desert. With a dynamic program designed to inspire readers, authors, and industry professionals, the festival aims to expand its reach while preserving its small-town charm and authenticity.

The 2025 Twentynine Palms Book Festival is poised to grow significantly, expecting 1,000 attendees, including over 200 overnight visitors, to be a three-day program celebrating storytelling and community. With 120 authors expected to participate—30 more than in 2024, the festival will continue to showcase Twentynine Palms as a creative hub, blending its small-town charm with a vibrant cultural scene.

The festival will feature four keynote talks by authors representing romance fiction, crime fiction, history, and science fiction, alongside panels, book signings, and workshops. The Twentynine Palms Community Center will be the main venue, hosting key attractions like the Live Discussions Theater, the Young Readers Zone, the Book Signings Area, and the Independent Authors Expo.

Signature satellite events will occur across the town, including Mojave Noir, Noir in the Boneyard at the public cemetery, Desert Literary Showcase at Kitchen in the Desert, and Happy Poetry Hour at the 29 Palms Inn. The closing event, Hollywood Meets the Desert, will connect authors and filmmakers, emphasizing Twentynine Palms as a potential filming location.

New initiatives will include the Historical Heritage Initiative, which is focused on preserving local stories, and the Aspiring Writers Program, which provides Aspiring Writers Program workshops for high school students.

A curated industry component, Shoot in 29 Palms, will highlight stories ready for adaptation, attracting filmmakers and producers.