Twentynine Palms Book Festival
November 7–9, 2025

Organized by Desert General, a local bookstore, the Twentynine Palms Book Festival returns for its third edition this November in the scenic Mojave Desert near Joshua Tree National Park. Building on the city’s growing reputation as a creative hub—recently featured in the L.A. Times (Jan 2024)—this year’s festival is expected to welcome over 1,000 visitors across three days.

Launched in 2023, the festival brings together authors, readers, and professionals from the publishing and entertainment industries. Hosted at the Twentynine Palms Community Center, the program features author talks, workshops, book signings, and networking opportunities.

Each day of the festival is anchored by a key theme:

• Friday, November 7 | The Power of Heritage Stories – spotlighting local and Indigenous narratives

• Saturday, November 8 | Never Underestimate the Desert – exploring the beauty and fragility of desert landscapes

• Sunday, November 9 | Books Don’t Need Chargers – inspiring parents to encourage reading in children

Each day opens with a keynote by a VIP Guest Author reflecting the day's theme. The Young Readers Zone will feature family-friendly activities, while the Independent Authors & Publishers Expo connects emerging voices with new audiences. A Food & Beer Garden and the official festival store will round out the experience.

This year’s festival will also explore a wide range of literary topics—from Tattoo Art & Literature and The Revival of Western Fiction to The Enduring Power of Crime Fiction—alongside workshops on monetizing literary work and how to get kids reading and writing.

Evenings will come alive with special events including the Desert Literary Showcase, Noir in the Boneyard, Mojave Noir, Happy Poetry Hour, and the closing celebration, Hollywood Meets the Desert.

The Shoot in 29 Palms initiative continues to connect festival stories with filmmakers and producers, positioning Twentynine Palms as a year-round destination for creative projects.

The preview program and guest author list will be released by the end of May. The final program will be announced six weeks before the festival.

PRIORITY SUPPORT FOR EARLY CONFIRMED AUTHORS.

Authors who sign up early for the festival will receive special attention and priority in promotional efforts, ensuring maximum visibility and engagement. Activation is scheduled to begin on Thursday, 6 March, providing a full eight months to connect with the festival's 2,500+ followers and build momentum around participating authors and their books.