Welcome to the Canal Town Book Festival
The Tuscarawas Valley’s largest author fair is coming your way.
Saturday, October 3rd, 2026
from 10am - 3pm
At the Dover High School Gym
520 N Walnut St, Dover, OH 44622
Enter on 6th Street!
This location is wheelchair accessible.
Meet 50 talented authors, spanning multiple genres. Find the perfect gifts for Christmas. Signed copies available for purchase directly from the author.
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Meet authors and get your books signed.
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Engage in Author led panels.
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Play at the children's activity area.
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Find fantastic gifts for the readers in your life.
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Have a chance to win one of our epic raffle prizes.
Author Led Panels
2026 Panels To Be Announced
10:30 - 11:00
Laughing My Way Through Life with "Lil John" Rinaldi
Featuring John Rinaldi
11:30 - 12:30
More than Words: Intention, Empathy, Inclusion and Respect in Books
Featuring Suzanne Boehlefeld, Allison Rozo, and Dr. Stuart D. Jones
1:00 - 2:00
Tips and Tricks for Promoting Your Book
Featuring Chrissy Hartmann, Marie Weller, and Paula Vertikoff
Raffle Prizes
For every book you buy you will earn 5 raffle tickets with the potential to win a fabulous raffle prize.
Bring your purchased books to the raffle table, to get your raffle tickets.
At the raffle table write your name and phone number on your tickets
and choose which prizes you want to put your tickets in for.
Kids Activities
Lots of free fun for kids at the book fair!
Scavenger Hunt
The Reading Dragons will be hiding around the book festival waiting to be found. Find them all for a treat.
Face Painting
The Dover High School cheerleaders will be painting faces or hands.
Create Your Own Story Book
We will have blank books for children to write and draw their own stories in.
Photo Booth
Take a picture at our fairytale backdrop with photo props that will be delivered directly to your phone.
Are you an author?
Are you interested in participating in the Canal Town Book Festival?
Here you will find out how to apply, a FAQ for Authors, and a mailing list to be notified when the next application is made available.