“Fahrenheit 451” by Ray Bradbury
“There must be something in books, things we can’t imagine,”
Since its inception, Bristol BookFest has brought the community together to read and discuss classic literature, from “All the King’s Men” to “Moby-Dick.” This year, we are excited to announce that Ray Bradbury's “Fahrenheit 451” will be the centerpiece of BookFest 2025. The novel’s themes of censorship, intellectual freedom, and media control remain as relevant today as when it was first published, challenging readers to reflect on their own perspectives.
The festival begins with our winter seminar series at Rogers Free Library, running weekly from January 21 to February 11, where we’ll explore the novel's cultural and literary significance. The event culminates in a weekend of lectures, discussions, and community engagement on April 4 and 5, 2025.
Whether you’re revisiting “Fahrenheit 451” or discovering it for the first time, we invite you to join us for a journey through Bradbury’s timeless exploration of society and the power of literature.
For events at Rogers Free Library and to register,
go to the RFL Calendar of Events here.
Weekend Agenda
FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2025: KEYNOTE PRESENTATION
Colt Andrews School Auditorium
Free and open to all. Registration required.
5 p.m.
SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 2025: SATURDAY PROGRAMMING
Linden Place Ballroom
$40. Registration required.
9 a.m.
9:30
9:40
10:45
11:45
12:30 p.m.
12:30 to 1:15
1:30
2:30
2:45
3:30
A CONVERSATION WITH AUTHOR KELLY LINK AND BBF COMMITTEE MEMBER JILLIAN HANON DELONG, WITH TIME FOR AUDIENCE Q&A
Followed by a RECEPTION AT THE ROGERS FREE LIBRARY
All BookFest registrants are invited to attend.
Registration, Coffee, Ink Fish Bookshop
WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION
“RAY BRADBURY: A LIFE BETWEEN THE PAGES, THE STARS, AND THE FLAMES OF CENSORSHIP”
Dr. Jason Aukerman, Director of the Ray Bradbury Center at Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN
THE CONVERSATION PARLOR
Guided community conversations in groups of five or six
“FANTASY NO MORE: ROBOTICISTS INTRODUCE “SPOT” FROM BOSTON DYNAMICS”
Ivy He and Benned Hedegaard, doctoral students at Brown University, demonstrate how far the field of robotics has come since Bradbury envisioned an autonomous mechanical hound.
Lunch*
Photos with Spot and conversations with roboticists
“YOU BE THE JUDGE: LEGAL ROLE-PLAY WITH AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION”
Rod Smolla, President of Vermont Law and Graduate School, South Royalton, VT
Afternoon Break
PANEL DISCUSSION WITH Q&A
Dr. Jason Aukerman, Kelly Link, Rod Smolla with Steve Calvert (moderator)
CLOSING: Shaping BFF 2026