ST. GEORGE – The Sixth-Annual St. George Book Festival returns to Utah’s Dixie Oct. 26-29, with various scheduled events taking place at the St. George Tabernacle, the main campus of the Washington County Library, and the Community Arts Building.

This year’s festival promises to be an excellent opportunity for readers of all agesto become energized for reading, along with the chance to mingle with a number of authors and share ideas.

The Festival gets underway on Oct. 26 with a special presentation by renowned author Gerald Lund held at the St. George Tabernacle beginning at 7 p.m.

On Oct. 27 the Washington County Library will present acclaimed photographer Ann Torrence, who will discuss her new book “US Highway 89: the Scenic Route to Seven Western National Parks,” a collection of photographs she took as she traveled over 15,000 miles between the Mexico and Canadian borders, researching the myths and realities of the American West that can be found on that long and winding highway.

The Washington County Library will be the scene for a pair of cinematic presentations on Oct. 28, beginning at 4 p.m., with a special children and youth screening of the movie “Huck Finn.” Following the film at 7 p.m., Brigham Young University Motion Picture Archive curator, James D’Arc, will discuss his new book, “When Hollywood Came to Town: A History of Moviemaking in Utah,” which is the result of more than 30 years of research on this hitherto untold aspect of Utah’s history.

The festival will enliven the town square all day Saturday, Oct. 29, beginning at 10 a.m., with three sessions holding simultaneous sessions in the Community Arts Center (Main Street at 100 South). James D’Arc will hold an abbreviated discussion on his Utah moviemaking book, while DSC English Professor Ami Jo Comeford and Tamy Burnett present their collaborative work on pop culture entitled “The Literary Angel: Essays on Influences & Traditions Reflected in the Joss Whedon Series.”

Also at 10 a.m. on Oct. 29, Washington County Library Director Britton Lund will host the first of two Dixie Reads seminars, with this session featuring Mark Twain’s classic “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” A plenary session follows at 11 a.m., featuring polygamy survivor and author Elissa Wall, who will discuss her book “Stolen Innocence.” Children’s sessions and activities will be presented during the lunch hour during Saturday of the festival, featuring Ferron Holt with the Children’s Museum presentation at noon, while Max the Magician will entertain the students at 1 p.m. Lunch will also be served at the Community Arts Center Plaza for $5.

Three more authors will take the stage to begin the afternoon session at 1 p.m., including poet Rosalyn Ostler, whowill discuss her work entitled “Walking the Earth Barefoot,” authors Logan Hebner and Michael Plyler will share their collaboration on the Southern Paiute people, entitled “The Southern Paiute: A Tribute,” and acclaimed local author Lyman Hafen will discuss his latest work, “Where Two Streams Meet: the Personal History of a Town.”

The final session of the Book Festival follows with three more breakout discussions on Saturday beginning 2:30 p.m; these will include the second Dixie Reads seminar on Muriel Barbery’s piece “The Elegance of the Hedgehog” with discussion led by Audrey Shumway, Salt Lake author Ally Condie discussing her New York Times bestselling book “Matched,” and award winning author Marilyn Arnold leading a discussion featuring her latest book, “Bittersweet: A Daughter’s Memoir.”

Every event at this year’s Book Festival is free and open to the public thanks to sponsorships by the Utah Humanities Council, the Utah Arts Council, St. George City, and The Spectrum. Schedule and information is available on the Utah Humanities Council website on the book festival for more information.