EVENT INFO
Plan Your Festival Day
Get ready for a fun, family-friendly day of books, special guests, and activities.
DATE
Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026
TIME
10 AM–3 PM
LOCATION
Orange Coast College
Main Quad
ADMISSION
Free
2026 Festival Lineup
Meet this year's headliners and special guest performer, then explore the authors, illustrators, exhibitors, and food trucks joining the festival.
Headliners
Rachel Ignotofsky
New York Times Bestselling Author & Illustrator
Dinosaurs: Exploring Prehistoric Life and Geological Time
Melissa Villaseñor
Author, Comedian & Artist
Cat and Lola: School Picture Day
Jesús Trejo
Comedian, Author & TV Host
Mamá's Magnificent Dancing Plantitas
Special Guest Performer
StoryTeller
KidTime StoryTime is YouTube's most-watched reading channel for kids!
StoryTeller and her puppet family celebrate literacy by reading children's books with zany humor, spontaneous singing, high energy, and love.
StoryTeller is a published children's book author, a three-time Emmy Award winner, and now a YouTube sensation whose mission is to inspire kids to read and work hard for their dreams.
Explore the Full Festival Lineup
Browse participating authors, illustrators, and exhibitors in the directory below.
Food Trucks at the Festival
From savory favorites to sweet treats, you'll find food and drinks for purchase.
Menu items and availability may vary.
Schedules
Explore the schedules of all four festival stages.
Main Entertainment Stage
| TIME | PRESENTATION |
|---|---|
| 10:15 am | Welcome by OCC President Dr. Angelica L. Suarez |
| 10:20 am | OCC Dance Team Performance |
| 10:40 am | Orange County Ghostbusters |
| 11:00 am | Arts & Learning Conservatory: Aladdin |
| 11:45 am | Interview with Melissa Villaseñor |
| 12:10 pm | Melissa Villaseñor reads "Cat and Lola: School Picture Day" |
| 12:20 pm | Interview with Jesús Trejo |
| 12:40 pm | Jesús Trejo reads "Mamá's Magnificent Dancing Plantitas" |
| 1:10 pm | Rachel Ignotofsky reads "Dinosaurs" |
| 1:40 pm | Live storytelling with KidTime StoryTime |
OCC Planetarium Dome
| TIME | PRESENTATION |
|---|---|
| 11:00 am | Family conversation with Rachel Ignotofksy "Women in Science" |
| 12:15 pm | Magic Tree House: Space Mission |
| 1:00 pm | Magic Tree House: Space Mission |
| 1:45 pm | Magic Tree House: Space Mission |
| 2:30 pm | Magic Tree House: Space Mission |
Orange Stage – Student Union Area
| TIME | PRESENTATION |
|---|---|
| 10:35 am | Dr. Adam Schilling – Gus and the Chatterbug |
| 10:55 am | Kimberlee Countryman – The Adventures of Bug & Bido |
| 11:15 am | Christine Alemshah – Bea's Balikbayan Box of Treasures |
| 11:45 am | Break: Join us at the Main Stage |
| 12:05 pm | Elisa Eliot – Zak VS. Zombies |
| 12:25 pm | Tristin Cole – Into the Night |
| 12:45 pm | Jenn Stryker – My Neighbors are Vampires |
| 1:05 pm | Marie Chow – It's Not Your Job |
| 1:25 pm | Camille Brown – Casey's Pet Detective Agency |
| 1:45 pm | Katie Dawson & Cassidy Pritchard – The Weather Inside: The Story of Katie & Bones |
| 2:15 pm | Maryam Kia – A Suitcase Full |
| 2:35 pm | Briana London (Cosworth Publishing) – Arnold's Pants |
Green Stage – Go Coast Area
| TIME | PRESENTATION |
|---|---|
| 10:35 am | April Wu (Seedlingo) – You Are My Little Xiao Long Bao |
| 10:55 am | Judy Li (Baby Snack Time) – Let's Celebrate |
| 11:15 am | Dashiell Hsu (Bitty Bao) – Bitty Baker's 100 First Kitchen Words |
| 11:45 am | Break: Join us at the Main Stage |
| 12:05 pm | Adaurie Stemshorn – I Will Always Be Your Mommy |
| 12:25 pm | Candice Harris – Majestic Dreams |
| 12:45 pm | Risa Williams – Max & The Imaginary Tree |
| 1:05 pm | Taylor Harper – Pippin: The Peaceful Panda |
| 1:25 pm | Ayodeji Anifowose – Tommy Can Win Too |
| 1:45 pm | Ann Chau (Gemma's Library) – My Ông Ngoại's Garden: Cal's Guide to Vietnamese Fruits and Culture |
| 2:15 pm | Alexsandra Pumphrey – Rawr Rawr Dinosaur: It's Time to Go to Bed |
| 2:35 pm | Andrew Ly – My Unicorn Eats Fried Chicken |
Know Before You Go
A few helpful details can make festival day easier to plan.
Getting Here
Festival Location
Orange Coast College, Main Quad
(in front of the College Center)
Best Way to Arrive
Approach campus from Fairview Road, then turn onto Merrimac Way to reach the festival parking lots. The closest parking is in Lot C and Lot D, with the Main Quad a short walk from those lots.
Address
2701 Fairview Road, Costa Mesa, CA 92626
Parking & Maps
Primary Parking
Free festival parking is available in Lots C, D, or E.
Campus Map
Festival Map
The festival map will be posted closer to the event.
Helpful Details
Admission
Free
Accessibility
This event is ADA compliant. Reasonable accommodation requests related to a disability should be made no later than five business days before the event.
Restrooms
Restrooms and accessible restrooms are available on campus. Locations will be marked on the festival map.
Food
Food and drinks will be available for purchase from participating food trucks. Menu items and availability may vary.
Pets
Pets and other animals are not permitted at the festival. Only trained service animals are allowed.
Weather Policy
The festival takes place outdoors on campus and is held rain or shine.
