LitFest 2014 (File Photo – Staff)
LitFest in the Dena is back this May 2–3 — and it’s coming back stronger than ever. Held at the Pasadena Presbyterian Church, the 2025 festival promises a lively weekend celebrating authors, poets, musicians, and readers from across the region.
By News Desk
Building on last year’s success — which welcomed over 150 writers and thousands of attendees — this year brings an expanded program and a deeper dive into timely themes. With more voices, new panels, and hands-on experiences, LitFest is poised to deliver one of its most powerful editions yet.
Books That Teach Us About Character
This year’s theme, Books That Teach Us About Character, promises a timely and poignant exploration of how literary figures reflect, challenge, and shape our values. From ethical dilemmas to fallen heroes, the festival will spotlight stories and discussions that resonate with today’s cultural landscape.
New Voices and Urgent Topics
This year’s lineup brings in bold new voices. Actor and activist Miles McKenna leads the much-anticipated panel Odd and Othered: Queer Speculative Stories, joined by authors Ryak Aoki, Madeleine Nakamura, and John Bryant — all diving into queer representation in speculative fiction.
Local legends the Pasadena Rose Poets — including Gerda Govine Ituarte and Kate Gale — will respond to the emotional and ecological toll of recent wildfires in Poetry as Memory and Collective Processing. Another highlight: Unsinged by Flames, a powerful youth-led session from PUSD Think Tank students reflecting on their wildfire experiences.
A Focus on Character — In Every Sense
In When Good People Write Bad People, acclaimed authors Diana Wagman, Janet Fitch, and Gary Phillips tackle the art of moral ambiguity in fiction. Meanwhile, Pasadena As a Character explores how the city itself becomes a central figure in the work of authors like Daniel Olivas and Naomi Hirahara.
Interactive, Immersive, and Unexpected
From storytelling to tea sipping, LitFest also features a wide range of interactive sessions:
- Tea & Fiction by Authoress Cafe blends literature with tea tasting.
- A DIY Zine Workshop with Daryl Gussin of Razorcake invites guests to create their own micro-publications.
- Take the Mic, Show Your Character, an open mic night, mixes poetry and performance, hosted by Notes and Letters members Bill Cushing and Chuck Corbisero.
- Punk meets prose in That Adult Crash, with readings by Chris Terry, Spice Lioness, and more.
Other standouts include:
- Creating Comics Characters that Jump Off the Page
- Twisted Fairytales with Brandie June
- YA Writing Workshop led by Jennifer Chen
Free, Festive, and for Everyone
True to its roots, LitFest in the Dena is completely free and open to the public. Expect food trucks, tea samples, live music, and a pop-up bookstore on-site throughout the weekend.
For full event details and schedule, visit litfestinthedena.org/schedule.
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