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Three days of authors, readings, and Hudson Valley buzz
Follow your curiosity through Beacon LitFest—talks, readings, and bookish gatherings that pair perfectly with the town’s indie shops and restaurants.
Event details
Founded in 2023 by Dr. Hannah Brooks, poet Ruth Danon, and dramaturg Shane Killoran, Beacon LitFest returns June 12 through 14, 2026 as a three day celebration connecting readers and writers through the literary arts. Events unfold across venues scattered along Main Street, creating an intimate, walkable festival atmosphere.
The festival opens Thursday, June 12 from 7:00 to 9:00 PM at Denning’s Point Distillery, located at 10 North Chestnut Street. Host Drew Prochaska of the Artichoke Storytelling Series curates an evening of local writers and performers, while distillery owner Susan Johnson serves signature cocktails and bites.
Friday, June 13 features the festival’s signature Women in Noir event at the Howland Cultural Center at 477 Main Street. The evening brings crime and thriller novelists into conversation with moderators from The Writers Studio and TownSquare Media.
Saturday, June 14 runs from morning through evening across multiple venues. Poetry readings take place at Beahive at 6 Eliza Street. Drama and performance programming begins at 1:30 PM at the Howland Cultural Center. The grand finale unfolds at VFW Memorial Hall, 413 Main Street, from 5:00 to 7:30 PM, featuring award winning fiction and nonfiction authors. Past guests have included Pulitzer Prize winner Jennifer Egan, Francine Prose, and Dinaw Mengestu.
All Access passes typically range from $75 to $100 and include entry to all events except Sunday writing workshops. Discounts are available through partner businesses such as the Dutchess Inn and Spa on Main Street. Individual event tickets start at $10, and many readings throughout the weekend are free.
All venues are located within a ten minute walk of one another along Main Street. The Metro North Beacon station places visitors just steps from the festival hub, making car free attendance from New York City easy and convenient.
Between sessions, browse signed copies at Stanza Books, 508 Main Street, an independent bookstore and literary destination opened in November 2023 by Andrea Talarico and Mark Harris. Grab coffee at Bank Square Coffeehouse, 129 Main Street, voted best coffee shop in the Hudson Valley and known for roasting its own Trax Coffee beans on site. Binnacle Books at 321 Main Street offers used and new titles in literature, poetry, and philosophy, along with a small food pantry drop off that supports the local community.
Books are available for sale at most festival venues, with author signings scheduled during the Saturday evening reception following the VFW Memorial Hall event.
Serious readers, aspiring writers, and literary minded travelers of all ages will find thoughtful programming throughout the weekend, though much of the content skews toward adult audiences and evening sessions often run late. When you need a break between panels, walk three blocks west to Pete and Toshi Seeger Riverfront Park on the Hudson River, where benches face the water and a paved trail stretches south for a mile.
June in the Hudson Valley typically brings temperatures in the 70s with occasional afternoon showers, so pack a light rain jacket and comfortable walking shoes for moving between venues. LitFest weekends fill Beacon’s lodging quickly, so book a Hudson River view rental through Lake.com at least a month in advance. Choosing a property within walking distance of Main Street helps maximize time at events.
Extend your literary weekend with a Sunday morning paddle on the Hudson River, with rentals available at the Beacon waterfront, or hike up Mount Beacon for sweeping views over the valley before heading home.
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