Last-Minute Reminders: Boston Book Festival 2011!

It's just around the corner . . . a full day jam-packed with presentations, discussions, workshops, activities, live music, fantastic food, and so much more! Excited yet? We sure are!

With over one hundred world-class presenters, BBF 2011 is bound to satisfy, but we have a few tips to help you make even more of the day.

Plan ahead. Check out our schedule grid online (it'll also be on a massive banner in Copley Square), plan your personal schedule for the day, and consider purchasing reserved tickets to secure your spot at our most popular sessions. Note that the vast majority of seats at every session are available for free on a first come first served basis--the choice is entirely up to you!

Print your tickets. If you do purchase advance tickets, be sure to print your e-tickets at home before heading out for the day!

T it, drive it, park it. Copley Square is just steps from the Copley T stop on the green line or a short walk from the Back Bay orange line/commuter rail station. Or, if you plan to drive, take advantage of the terrific parking deal from our friends at LAZ parking-just make sure to print your voucher before leaving home!

Dress for the weather. The BBF has dozens of great activities, indoors and out, but we all know that New England autumn is unpredictable at best. Check the weather forecast and pack accordingly--the BBF proceeds, rain or shine!

Visit our booksellers. Book signings follow every session, thanks to our friends at Harvard Book Store, Brookline Booksmith, Porter Square Books, and Wellesley Booksmith! Their sales tables will be open in our venues all day--stop by, say hi, and buy a book or two!

Stop by the BBF Pavilion. Boston may be the hub of the universe, but the hub of Boston on Saturday will be the BBF Pavilion, located right in front of Trinity Church on Copley Square Plaza. It's the location of the main BBF info table, as well as all our cool new merchandise (you'll love this year's tote bags and commemorative posters!). Plus, our presenting partner WBUR 90.9, Boston's NPR News Station, will be there, as well as Google Books and the Brookline Booksmith.

Become our HERO. From sidekicks and villains to knights-errant and damsels in distress, literature is full of colorful archetypes. This year, we've made buttons that celebrate this tradition. Chances are, no matter your style or mood, there's an archetype button for you at the BBF Pavilion--pin one on and let everyone know how you fit in to the story! Everyone knows, though, that the most important character in any story is the hero--and you can be our hero by becoming a member! For a tax-deductible donation of $50 or more, you can become a member of the Boston Book Festival and receive terrific benefits throughout the year, including advance sales and discounts on ticketed events. Plus, you'll receive an exclusive, members-only Hero button that you can wear with pride at the BBF and all year long. Stop by the BBF Pavilion and learn how you can contribute to BBF's own "happily ever after."

Tweet it up! Follow us on @bostonbookfest for real-time updates and must-see events, and tweet about your experience at #BBF2011! You can even win some great prizes if you tweet by Friday night!

And most importantly, have fun! You'll be in the company of thousands of other book lovers at New England's largest literary event. Relax, take it all in, and enjoy this opportunity to mix and mingle with folks who love reading just as much as you do!