BizBash
  • Production & Strategy
  • Catering & Design
  • Event Tech & Virtual
  • Venues & Destinations
  • Meetings & Trade Shows
  • Sports
  • Advertise
  • Events
Topics
  • Production & Strategy
  • Catering & Design
  • Event Tech & Virtual
  • Venues & Destinations
  • Meetings & Trade Shows
  • Sports
  • Advertise
  • Events
  • Industry Buzz
  • BizBash Lists
Resources
  • On-Demand
  • White Papers & E-Books
  • Podcast
  • Magazine
  • Events
  • Awards
  • Subscribe
User Tools
Follow BizBash
Instagram iconLinkedIn iconFacebook iconTwitter X icon Pinterest iconYouTube iconTikTok
  • About Us
  • Advertise
  • Get Featured
  • Press Releases
  • Newsletter Signup
  • Subscribe to Magazine
Follow BizBash
Instagram iconLinkedIn iconFacebook iconTwitter X icon Pinterest iconYouTube iconTikTok
  • Production & Strategy
  • Catering & Design
  • Event Tech & Virtual
  • Venues & Destinations
  • Meetings & Trade Shows
  • Sports
  • Advertise
  • Events
  • On-Demand
  • White Papers & E-Books
  • Podcast
  • Magazine
  • Events
  • Awards
  • Subscribe

Washington’s Top 100 Events 2016 - Literary & Publishing Events

December 6, 2016
1. National Book Festival
1. National Book Festival

#1 Literary & Publishing Event
An estimated 100,000 people attended the 16th annual National Book Festival, an event that is produced by the Library of Congress and takes place at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. Notable guest appearances this year included author Stephen King, basketball star Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, TV producer Shonda Rhimes, journalist Bob Woodward, graphic novelist Raina Telgemeier, Librarian of Congress Carla Hayden, and writer Salman Rushdie. The event also increased its social media presence with multiple Facebook Live streams, including one for King's appearance that garnered more than 222,000 views at a reach of 1.5 million. Next: September 2, 2017

Photo: Shawn Miller
2. Best of Washington
2. Best of Washington

#2 Literary & Publishing Event
Held June 9 at the National Building Museum, the annual party from The Washingtonian celebrates the magazine's top choices for the best cuisine in Washington. More than 75 local restaurants participated in the event, which attracted 2,000 people. AT&T was the event's presenting sponsor at the event, which benefits the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Next: June 2017

Photo: Joy Asico
3. PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction Ceremony & Dinner
3. PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction Ceremony & Dinner

#3 Literary & Publishing Event
Given since 1980 to works of fiction published by an American citizen in a calendar year, the PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction, presented by the PEN/Faulkner Foundation, is the largest U.S. peer-juried prize in the field. This year's award ceremony, held May 14 at the Folger Shakespeare Library, was attended by about 250 people. Author James Hannaham won for Delicious Foods. Next: Spring 2017

Photo: James R. Brantley
4. National Press Club’s Book Fair and Authors’ Night
4. National Press Club’s Book Fair and Authors’ Night

#4 Literary & Publishing Event (up from #6)
A fund-raiser for the National Press Club Journalism Institute, the fair brings together authors, journalists, and other writers at the press club's headquarters. Independent book store Politics & Prose and the SEED Foundation, which helps under-served students prepare for college, are among the event's partners. The 39th annual event, which took place November 18, had about 100 participating writers. Next: Fall 2017

Photo: Noel St. John
5. Scripps National Spelling Bee
5. Scripps National Spelling Bee

#5 Literary & Publishing Event
About 1,800 people attended at the 89th annual Scripps National Spelling Bee, which was held May 24 to 26 at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland. The event included the annual barbecue kick-off at the National Zoo. New this year was Bee Week, whose opening ceremony celebrated the event's heritage. Kindle was a presenting sponsor, and was actively involved in the event's Spellebrity Video Contest, which asked student teams to create videos showcasing “how to kindle a love of reading.” Spellers voted for the champion video. Jairam Hathwar and Nihar Janga were declared co-champions after 24 rounds. ESPN televises the spelling contest, which drew a television audience of  859,000. Next: May 29-June 2, 2017

Photo: Mark Bowen/Scripps National Spelling Bee
Latest in Home
2025 Industry Innovators Article Image Brands
Brands & Event Pros
Industry Innovators 2025: 10 Brands That Took Experiential Marketing to a Whole New Level
Hennessy returned to Gov Ball with its revamped Hennessy Highline. Festivalgoers stopped by for live mural paintings, DJ sets between performances, custom photo ops, and an interactive claw machine where fans lined up for a shot at exclusive Hennessy premiums, as well as cocktails like the Henny-Rita, Hennessy Berry Mojito, and Hennessy Pineapple. See more: Gov Ball 2025: 25+ Eye-Catching Brand Activations From the NYC Music Festival
Opinion & Experts
Top Trending Stories on BizBash: June 2025
LinkedIn's Rooftop & Studio
Experiential Marketing, Activations & Sponsorships
Cannes Lions 2025: 90+ Bold Builds and Big Ideas From the French Festival of Creativity
The second-ever Fanatics Fest returned to New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Center June 20-22.
Sports
Fanatics Fest 2025: This Mega Celebration of Sports Fandom Returned For a Bigger, Bolder Second Year
Related Stories
National Cherry Blossom Festival
Top 100 Events
Washington’s Top 100 Events 2016
1. Humane Rescue Alliance Fashion for Paws Runway Show
Home
Fashion & Beauty Events
1. Preakness Stakes
Home
Sports Events
1. Smithsonian Folklife Festival
Home
Parades, Walks & Festivals
More in Home
Brands & Event Pros
Industry Innovators 2025: 10 Brands That Took Experiential Marketing to a Whole New Level
These companies broke through the noise with creative activations, events, and experiences that engaged attendees, fans, and consumers.
2025 Industry Innovators Article Image Brands
Opinion & Experts
Top Trending Stories on BizBash: June 2025
Wondering what the rest of the industry is up to? Here, BizBash offers a peek over the fence at what other event profs have been reading this month.
Hennessy returned to Gov Ball with its revamped Hennessy Highline. Festivalgoers stopped by for live mural paintings, DJ sets between performances, custom photo ops, and an interactive claw machine where fans lined up for a shot at exclusive Hennessy premiums, as well as cocktails like the Henny-Rita, Hennessy Berry Mojito, and Hennessy Pineapple. See more: Gov Ball 2025: 25+ Eye-Catching Brand Activations From the NYC Music Festival
Experiential Marketing, Activations & Sponsorships
Cannes Lions 2025: 90+ Bold Builds and Big Ideas From the French Festival of Creativity
LinkedIn, Spotify, Canva, Pinterest, Meta, and dozens of other top brands showed up in a big way at the world’s most creative week. Take a look inside their splashy activations.
LinkedIn's Rooftop & Studio
Sports
Fanatics Fest 2025: This Mega Celebration of Sports Fandom Returned For a Bigger, Bolder Second Year
The second-ever Fanatics Fest was a championship-size arena where $200 million in memorabilia and countless celebrity sightings meshed with high-energy activations and experiences that nodded to the culture and swagger of NYC.
The second-ever Fanatics Fest returned to New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Center June 20-22.
Chicago
9 New Venues in Chicago for Summer 2025 Meetings and Events
Take a peek at these buzzworthy restaurants, hotels, meeting and event spaces, and more recently opened in Chicago.
The Talbott Hotel
Sponsored
The Future of Meetings Is in Cincy
Cincy is redefining what's next in meetings and events.
Downtown Cincinnati's $240 million reimagined Duke Energy Convention Center
Most Popular
Experiential Marketing, Activations & Sponsorships
50 Cool Event Ideas You May Have Missed From Liquid I.V., Martha Stewart, Foot Locker, and More
Experiential Marketing, Activations & Sponsorships
Cannes Lions 2025: 90+ Bold Builds and Big Ideas From the French Festival of Creativity
Sports
Fanatics Fest 2025: This Mega Celebration of Sports Fandom Returned For a Bigger, Bolder Second Year
Industry Insiders
Inside the Build: How Bellagio Fountain Club Delivers F1® Weekend’s Most Luxurious Hospitality Experience
Experiential Marketing, Activations & Sponsorships
Gov Ball 2025: 25+ Eye-Catching Brand Activations From the NYC Music Festival
Experiential Marketing, Activations & Sponsorships
See Inside This High-Tech, Multisensory Experience from Don Julio
Experiential Marketing, Activations & Sponsorships
Block Party: See How Minecraft Was Transformed Into an IRL Video Game
The popular game has been turned into an interactive in-person experience that just opened in Canada.
Visitors embark on a rescue mission with a team of fellow Minecrafters.
United States
7 Event Venues in St. Louis That Will Wow Attendees
From an architectural playground and museum to a luxury hotel, visitors are sure to be pleasantly surprised.
1. City Museum
Experiential Marketing, Activations & Sponsorships
50 Cool Event Ideas You May Have Missed From Liquid I.V., Martha Stewart, Foot Locker, and More
Here’s a look at some steal-worthy ideas we spotted in June 2025.
The pop-up brought the magazine to life through live hair demonstrations by local stylists, along with immersive moments designed to honor the legacy, creativity, and versatility of Black hair.
Sponsored
Turning Corporate Messaging Into Human Storytelling
A thoughtful approach to content, design, and production
Garret Gray, president of Cotality's Protect Business Unit, opens the general session.
Meetings
How RenderATL Is Redefining the Concept of Tech Conferences
The three-day event featured a playful carnival theme along with a programming lineup of workshops, panels, and networking opportunities.
As the flagship event of Atlanta Tech Week, RenderATL 2025 brought together thousands of engineers, designers, entrepreneurs, and executives.
Sponsored
Satisfying the Content Creators in Your Crowd
Support your content-creating attendees by following these three rules.
23914771 1x Blog Post Placeholder
Page 1 of 302
Next Page
BizBash
Follow BizBash
Instagram iconLinkedIn iconFacebook iconTwitter X icon Pinterest iconYouTube iconTikTok
  1. Privacy Policy
  2. CCPA: Do Not Sell My Personal Info
  3. Contact Us
  4. Site Map
© 2025 Connect Biz, LLC. All rights reserved.