What to Expect at YallFest Book Festival in Charleston, SC

If you love books, BookTube, BookTok, or anything bookish, one of the festivals you’ll have to visit at least once is Yallfest. Held every year in Charleston, South Carolina, this festival’s bookish event caters to YA (young adult) book fans. Here’s what to expect at Yallfest, and believe me, you’re going to get addicted and want to come back over and over again. 

When does Yallfest happen? 

Yallfest happens in November, and typically the weekend after Veterans Day. The dates for next year’s event are usually announced a few weeks after the conclusion of the event for the current year. 

Yallfest is always held in downtown Charleston, South Carolina. There is a spinoff event called Yallwest which is always held yearly in Santa Monica, California. 

When is Yallfest 2025 happening? 

Yallfest 2025 will be held November 14-15, 2025, in Downtown Charleston, South Carolina. 

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Where is Yallfest held yearly?  

The headquarters of Yallfest are at Blue Bicycle Books at 420 King St, Charleston, SC 29403. 

The venues for panels change depending on capacity. Venues from 2024 include the Charleston Museum, the Charleston Public Library, a big tent near Blue Bicycle Books, and a few stores downtown. 

Bigger authors who need ticketed signings usually happen at the big tent on Fridays and Saturdays. First-come first first-served signings by other authors are spread out. Check the calendar or the newspaper to see the final venues. 

Expect Lines Everywhere

Expect to queue (or line) up everywhere. If you want to get your book signed, then you can expect to queue up for hours at a time, especially if the author is a well-known one. Solo travelers (like me) use the time to talk to other folks waiting in line, and they become line buddies. These line buddies can help you hold your place in line if you need to use the toilet, and you can repay the favor by doing the same for the,m too! 

Aside from making line buddies, you can use the time to do something productive. I usually tend to write blog posts on the notes app on my phone, but other people prefer to use the time to catch up on some books they’re reading.  

Inclement weather awaits while you’re queued up

Yallfest happens rain or shine. You could be in line for a signing or an ARC drop for a publisher, and it’s pouring down rain. Bring umbrellas and rain jackets for yourself. You never know if you’ll get soaked or not.

The same goes for hot weather. Occasionally, the weather can get hot and muggy in November in Charleston. The umbrella can help protect you from the heat, but I have to admit it’s not pleasant queueing up in the heat. 

When I attended in 2024, it was unseasonably warm for November in Charleston. Even though there were ARC Drops in the afternoon, I skipped the past 2 pm because I couldn’t stand the heat. I went for a panel track instead. 

Make sure you have backup plans in case your original plan has to be changed because of the weather. 

Pack a lunch and snacks

Because of certain tracks, you may not get a chance to sit down and eat an actual meal at lunch. Other folks I’ve met packed sandwiches for lunch and ate while in line. There are takeaway spots close to Blue Bicycle where you can quickly grab food for lunch. 

You can read more of my Downtown Charleston recommendations here. 

Ticketed and paid events at Yallfest 

Currently, 3 events need to be paid for if you want to attend. These are the Opening Keynote, the Closing Keynote, and the Smackdown. 

Are the Keynotes Worth Paying For? 

At $10 a ticket plus ticketing fees, the Keynotes are an extra paid event. Usually, a popular (and big) author talks during the Keynote about a few topics or a Q&A. 

In my opinion, the Keynotes are not worth paying for unless you’re an absolute fan of the author. 

Since I read for the sake of learning and escapism, I am not a fanatic of authors’ works. I tend to read a book and move on and almost never reread works (except Harry Potter). 

I would rather save the $10 to pay for food, drink, or other books to haul home. 

What is the Yallfest Smackdown? 

The Yallfest Smackdown, touted as a fun event where your favorite authors play games for audience entertainment, is the last event of Yallfest.

Every year, the host, players, and the types of games change, so one year may be more fun or interesting than the other. 

2024’s event costs $12+ taxes and fees, so $15 is the most expensive event you’ll have the option to pay for during Yallfest. 

Is the SmackDown Worth Paying For? 

Honestly? No. I bought a ticket the first time, thinking it was good fun and entertainment. It is, but I could’ve gone back to my accommodations earlier and worked or grabbed dinner that time. 

I feel that for the amount I paid, it’s not worth it. I would totally go if it’s free, but while it’s paid, I will skip the event in my future forays to Yallfest. 

In other words, I feel my time would be better spent walking around the city than attending the Smackdown at Yallfest. 

What to expect at Yallfest

And there you have it. This post is by no means comprehensive on what you can do at Yallfest, but I hope it helped you plan your weekend accordingly. 

The main festival happens on Saturday, but I usually arrive by Friday evening so I can attend the event bright and early on Saturday. Since I am a 4-hour drive from Charleston, I can leave after work on Friday and enjoy my weekend. I usually check out of my accommodations by Sunday to explore the city and the surrounding areas.