Thousands of fans filled the streets of Charleston, S.C., for the fourth annual YALLFest, held November 7–8. The event hosted dozens of popular YA authors and offered panel discussions, interactive audience games and readings, as well as an evening party and live music performance. All photos: David Strauss.
A large turnout descended on downtown Charleston for the latest YALLFest.
YA fans donned their matching YALLFest tees outside of the central venue, Charleston Music Hall.
A fan posed with author Laini Taylor for a possible competition of Most Neon-Colored Hair.
The audience filled the Charleston Music Hall for Sara Zarr and James Dashner’s keynote speech.
Keeping the buzzing crowds of YA enthusiasts in order was all-day fun for YALLFest volunteers.
Gayle Forman high-fived a teen reader from her signing line.
The line of people awaiting book signings snaked around the Charleston city blocks.
James Dashner posed with a reader as he signed books.
(From l.): Laini Taylor weighed in during a panel discussion featuring Rainbow Rowell, Stephanie Perkins, David Levithan, Gayle Forman and Matt de la Peña.
Marie Lu signed a stack of books.
In attendance at the Disney party are (from l.,) Sarah Enni of YA Highway, Rainbow Rowell, and Veronica Roth.
Ryan Graudin engaged fans in between signatures.
Kwame Alexander got audience members moving during an interactive reading of Acoustic Chicken.
Veronica Roth chatted with her readers as she signed books.
Authors (from l.,) Carrie Ryan, Kwame Alexander and John Parke Davis joined two attendees for an audience participation game of Story Ball.
(From l.,) Pseudonymous Bosch and Adam Gidwitz chatted with festivalgoers at their dual signing.
Author Libba Bray got the crowd going as frontwoman to the all-YA-author band Tiger Beat, featuring Natalie Standiford on bass, Daniel Ehrenhaft on guitar, and Barnabas Miller on drums.
With this year’s stack of books signed, readers have another year of new books ahead before YALLFest 2015.
