FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 10, 2025

Press Contact: Erin Del Signore, Associate Director, Community Engagement

Charles County Public Library

301.807.4539

edelsignore[at]ccplonline[dot]org

CHARLES COUNTY PUBLIC LIBRARY PRESENTS THE CCPL BOOKS, BITES, & BEATS FEST!

(La Plata, MD) Charles County Public Library (CCPL) is excited to announce the first-ever CCPL Books, Bites, & Beats Fest, a community celebration and fundraising event on Saturday, April 5, 2025, from 11 AM to 3 PM at the Waldorf West Branch.

This vibrant festival brings the community together with author talks, book signings, live music, local artisans, food trucks, and family-friendly activities. Attendees will also have the chance to shop at the first-ever Citizens for the Charles County Public Library Pop-Up Book Sale tent.

All ticket sales from the CCPL Books, Bites, & Beats Fest will directly support CCPL’s mission to provide free programs, services, and resources to the Charles County community and help ensure that the library remains a cherished institution for generations to come. 

Festival Highlights include:

  • VIP Author Brunch with Dolen Perkins-Valdez – Join New York Times bestselling author Dolen Perkins-Valdez and DMV book influencer Talia Cadet for an engaging discussion about her latest book, HAPPY LAND. Every VIP Author Brunch ticket includes a signed copy of HAPPY LAND. Copies of HAPPY LAND purchased from MahoganyBooks.

  • Wine Tasting & Live Music – Enjoy an afternoon of fine wines paired with a performance by renowned vocal artist Desiree Jordan.

  • Themed Festival Villages – Explore the Book Village, Vendor Village, Kids Village, and Food Village, featuring local authors, unique crafts and merchandise, face painting, and delicious treats while grooving to the music of DJ Hefbeats.

There are several ways to enjoy the CCPL Books, Bites, & Beats Fest! Ticket options include:

  • Library Legend ($175/person) – VIP All-Access Pass (VIP Author Brunch + HAPPY LAND Signed Copy + VIP Wine Tasting & Live Music + Festival Access)

  • Library Luminary ($125/person) – VIP Author Brunch + HAPPY LAND Signed Copy + Festival Access

  • Library Lover ($75/person) – VIP Wine Tasting & Live Music + Festival Access

  • General Admission Festival: Free! (Donations of $5 or more will receive a CCPL tote bag while supplies last).

Tickets can be purchased at https://ccplonline.org/ccpl-fest/.

Proceeds from this event will directly support CCPL’s mission to provide free programs, services, and resources to the Charles County community.

Call for Local Authors & Vendors

CCPL invites local authors and business owners to participate in the Books, Bites, & Beats Fest! This is a fantastic opportunity to showcase books, handmade goods, art, and other items while engaging with the community. Interested participants can apply at https://ccplonline.org/ccpl-fest/.

For more information, contact fundraising@ccplonline.org or visit www.ccplonline.org.

About Charles County Public Library

The Charles County Public Library creates opportunities for our community to engage, discover, and learn. CCPL consists of four library branches, the Mobile Library, the Discovery Lab, the  24-Hour Library Kiosk at the Nanjemoy Community Center, and a location inside the Charles County Detention Center. CCPL has over 100 full- and part-time employees. Our branches house over 200,000 volumes of printed material, audiobooks, film, and other documents, and we have an online branch at www.ccplonline.org, where we add new resources regularly. Currently, there are over 75,000 county residents who have library cards, and that number grows every day.