Over the past 15 years, the Word on the Street Book and Magazine Fair has become a tradition in cities across Canada. On the last Sunday of September, hundreds of thousands of people from Halifax, Nova Scotia, to Vancouver, British Columbia, join in this free celebration of literature and literacy. Events also take place in Kitchener and Toronto, Ontario, and in Calgary, Alberta.

Each city stages readings and signings by established fiction and non-fiction authors. Emphasis tends to be on that region’s writers, who also may be nationally or even internationally known. Poets, storytellers and singers present their works, too.

In addition, writers, editors and publishers host workshops, seminars and panel discussions for aspiring authors and the general public. Topics range from how to get published to writing for film and television to the challenges of writing in a second language, an important consideration in Canada’s multi cultural milieu.

And then there are the exhibitors, often more than 100 at any one location. Many informational booths are staffed by members of pertinent organizations, such as the Canadian Magazine Publishers Association, the Editors’ Association of Canada, Crime Writers Canada or the Playwrights Guild of Canada. Literacy groups, public libraries, newspapers and a variety of related agencies, such as the Christian Science Reading Room, also are represented. Perhaps most popular, though, are the stalls of book and magazine publishers and sellers, where festival goers may get their first look at hot new titles or  browse and buy back listed volumes.

While the basic structure of the Word on the Street is the same at every location, individual cities sometimes put their own mark on the mix.

For example, Kitchener includes a book swap. Festival goers bring books they have finished reading and want to share with others. They drop them off at the swap booth and take away books they haven’t read. Organizers monitor the swap to ensure that books are in good condition and of suitable subject matter.

Calgary presents the Dave Greber Freelance Writers Award at its festival. Writers with contracts for non-fiction magazine articles or books may apply for the award. It provides funds to help meet the recipient’s expenses related to living, writing and research prior to publication.

Vancouver likes to kick off its festival by recognizing youngsters who have participated in summer reading programs across the city. Each child is called on stage to receive a book and a handshake.

Another part of the Vancouver event is the book bag treasure hunt. People attending the festival can purchase official canvas book bags for $18 from selected exhibitors and collect free merchandise from all exhibitors participating in the treasure hunt. A complete list of participating exhibitors is included with the purchase of the book bag, plus participating exhibitors display a sign with the book bag symbol.

Vancouver’s festival is held downtown at Library Square, with tents erected on the plaza surrounding Vancouver Public Library. Adjacent streets are closed to traffic in order to provide extra space, and the festival even spills over to the sidewalks in front of nearby buildings.

In other cities, the Word on the Street takes over piers, parks and marketplaces. It will next be held on Sunday, September 24, 2006.

British Columbia travel writer Toni Dabbs is a regular contributor to The Cultured Traveler.