Litquake Festival: BARTable event roundup

Litquake arrives in the Bay Area on Oct. 9. Photo courtesy of Litquake. 

Mark your calendars! Litquake returns to the Bay Area Oct. 9–25, bringing two weeks of readings, performances, workshops and celebrations of books, voices and bold storytelling. Now in its 26th year, Litquake has grown into one of the West Coast’s most beloved indie literary festivals. With more than 100 events—many free or low-cost—plus Lit Crawl SF, a one-night literary pub crawl through the Mission District, there’s no shortage of inspiration. Check out the full Litquake schedule here, and don’t miss a few of our favorite events just steps from BART.

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BARTable Litquake Events to enjoy this October

Kick off Litquake with (Not So) Guilty Pleasures: Litquake’s Opening Night. Photo courtesy of Eventbrite. 

(Not So) Guilty Pleasures: Litquake’s Opening Night | Montgomery St

On Litquake’s opening night, celebrate your literary indulgences. You know, the ones you don’t usually tell people you’re reading. Submit your picks when you buy your ticket, and comedian Natasha Muse will create a custom set based on everyone’s favorite guilty pleasures. There’ll also be food, drinks and DJs. This fun Litquake event takes place at Hawthorn SF Nightclub & Lounge, located at 46 Geary St., just 0.2 miles from Montgomery St.

Join a special night of poetry and Taylor Swift at this year's Litquake. Photo courtesy of Eventbrite. 

The Tortured Poets: An Ode to Taylor Swift | 24th St Mission

The literary world collides with superstar Taylor Swift on Oct. 21. Litquake event “The Tortured Poets: An Ode to Taylor Swift” brings together acclaimed writers—including Kim Addonizio, Jane Hirshfield, Dean Rader and Tess Taylor—for a night of verse inspired by Swift’s songs. Hosted by editor Kristie Daugherty, this event celebrates creativity and storytelling through poetry. Whether you’re a Swiftie or not, head to the Make-Out Room (3225 22nd St.), just 0.2 miles from 24th St Mission.

Enjoy a night of '90s cartoons at Litquake. Photo courtesy of Eventbrite. 

Something Unpredictable: Relive the 1990s with Bay Area Cartoonists | Ashby

Dive into 90s nostalgia at Litquake's “Something Unpredictable: Relive the 1990s with Bay Area Cartoonists.” Comics by artists Briana Loewinsohn, Julia Wertz, Thien Pham and Janelle Hessig creatively capture the spirit of growing up in the Bay Area. Attend the event to see their work and reflect on how the scene has evolved. This event on Oct. 24 at 2904 College Ave. (1.1 miles from Ashby) is hosted by Justin Hall of California College of the Arts.

Litquake Out Loud is a unique, creative and inspiring way to spend the day. Photo courtesy of Litquake. 

Litquake Out Loud | Montgomery St

Enjoy a day on the Great Lawn at Yerba Buena Gardens with poetry readings from Litquake Out Loud. This event showcases the Bay Area’s BIPOC and LGBTQ+ writers, thought leaders and underrepresented voices throughout the Bay Area. Check here for the full list of participants and enjoy the event, just 0.3 miles from Montgomery St.

Celebrate Litquake at Lit Crawl SF. Photo courtesy of Litquake. 

Lit Crawl SF | 16th St Mission, 24th St Mission

On Oct. 25, join fellow book lovers on one of the most anticipated literary nights of the year. San Francisco's Lit Crawl is a literary pub crawl in the Mission District, and the perfect way to end a fun festival. Explore bars, cafés, galleries and, of course, bookstores at this free pop-up event. See our full 2025 schedule below or follow Litquake’s Lit Crawl map throughout the Mission. 

Little ones will love Kidquake on Oct. 9–10. Photo courtesy of Litquake. 

Kidquake | Multiple

Kidquake brings the magic of stories to thousands of Bay Area public school students during the Litquake Festival. The two-day celebration (Oct. 9–10) features in-person and virtual author talks, creative workshops and hands-on activities led by local educators. This year’s lineup features beloved creators such as Shannon Hale, Arree Chung, Joanna Ho and Shawn Harris, along with illustrators and storytellers hosting art and map-making workshops. 

Hear from author Chris Kraus at this fun Litquake event. Photo courtesy of Eventbrite. 

The Four Spent the Day Together with Chris Kraus | 12th St/Oakland City Center

Critically acclaimed author Chris Kraus joins Litquake 2025 for a conversation about her new novel, “The Four Spent the Day Together.” Blending autofiction and true crime, the book follows a shocking murder in rural Minnesota and one woman’s growing obsession with the case. Kraus examines the web of interconnectedness on social media and the growing divide between wealth and poverty. Hosted by Jessica Ferri of Womb House Books, this thought-provoking event takes place on Oct. 10 at the OakStop California Ballroom (1736 Franklin St.), only 0.3 miles from 12th St/Oakland City Center.

Authors and advocates come together at Litquake for Books Not Bans presents: The Transformative Power of Fiction. Photo courtesy of Eventbrite. 

Books Not Bans presents: The Transformative Power of Fiction | Civic Center/UN Plaza

On Oct. 14, celebrate all books at “Books Not Bans: The Transformative Power of Fiction.” This Litquake event is co-presented with the San Francisco Public Library, and its panel discusses how stories foster empathy, resilience and connection. You’ll hear from acclaimed authors Charlie Jane Anders, Kate Folk, Elena Darling-Hammond and others, while Becka Robbins of "Books Not Bans" moderates the day. This organization distributes free queer and banned books to those who need them most. To join the event, exit BART at Civic Center/UN Plaza and stroll a few steps to the SFPL Koret Auditorium at 100 Larkin St.

Check out The Approach, a new newspaper launching during Litquake. Photo courtesy of City Lights Bookstore. 

Introducing The Approach at City Lights Bookstore | Montgomery St

Join Litquake and City Lights on Oct. 15 for the launch of The Approach — a bold new guerrilla newspaper-meets-literary-magazine created to confront our current political emergency. Existing only in print, The Approach gathers powerful voices to explore how we can resist, survive and reimagine in the face of autocracy. Contributors include Ingrid Rojas Contreras, Rebecca Solnit, Alexis Madrigal, Lauren Markham, Omar El Akkad and R.O. Kwon. This Litquake event celebrates writing as both a resistance and a roadmap for uncertain times. Check it out, 0.6 miles from Montgomery St.

Litquake's Listen To Your Elders: An Elder Project Get-Together & Reading event proves stories are for all everyone. Photo courtesy of Eventbrite. 

Listen To Your Elders: An Elder Project Get-Together & Reading | 24th St Mission

Creativity has no age limit, and at this Litquake event, you can celebrate storytelling across generations. “Listen to Your Elders: An Elder Project Get-Together & Reading,” co-presented with Ruth’s Table, is a heartfelt event showcasing the work of seniors who’ve participated in creative writing and storytelling workshops throughout San Francisco and Oakland. Attendees will hear original poetry, fiction, and personal essays that reflect lived experiences, community, and wisdom. Enjoy light refreshments while connecting with writers who prove creativity has no age limit, just 0.4 miles from 24th St Mission.

Explore California's public land with Josh Jackson. Photo courtesy of KQED (Asher Moss).

The Enduring Wild: A Journey into California’s Public Lands | Montgomery St

Discover California’s untamed beauty on Oct. 17 at The Enduring Wild: A Journey into California’s Public Lands, co-presented with KALW. Author and outdoor adventurer Josh Jackson shares stories from his exploration of the state’s 15 million acres of public wilderness — from desert plateaus to mountain peaks — revealing the Indigenous histories, modern threats, and grassroots movements that shape these lands today. In conversation with Marissa Ortega-Welch of KALW, Jackson invites audiences to reflect on what it means to own and protect the wild collectively. This Litquake event is only 0.1 mile from Montgomery St.

What Litquake events are you attending?