THE AJC DECATUR BOOK FESTIVAL: Pages of fun

The Decatur Book Festival is declaring its independence.

“America’s Largest Independent Book Festival” reads the tagline on the poster for the third annual book megaparty, which runs Friday through Sunday.

Other cities may have bigger turnouts, says Daren Wang, the DBF’s executive director, but they’re all owned by larger corporations. Decatur’s festival, which hopes to draw 75,000 attendees this year, is run by an independent board of volunteers that strives to weave the festival into the laid-back artsy vibe of downtown Decatur.

BEST BETS

Billy Collins

Keynote speech by former U.S. poet laureate. 8 p.m. Friday, Presser Hall, Agnes Scott College. Seating fills up early.

“Madeline” Children’s Parade

Led by John Bemelmans Marciano, grandson of the creator. Starts at 9 a.m. Saturday, corner of Clairmont Avenue and Commerce Drive.

Natasha Trethewey and Eric Trethewey

Pulitzer Prize-winning poet and her father appear together. 3 p.m. Saturday at Decatur Presbyterian Church.

Pearl Cleage

Atlanta-based author and playwright (and Oprah Book Club anointee). 1:45 p.m. Saturday at Decatur Presbyterian Church.

John Dean

Former Nixon White House aide and author of “Broken Government: How Republican Rule Destroyed the Legislative, Executive, and Judicial Branches.” 5:30 p.m. Saturday at Decatur Presbyterian Church.

Fantasy vs. Sci-Fi Smackdown

Teens are invited to debate which genre rules. 2:45 p.m. Saturday at Several Dancers Core on Decatur Square.

Atlanta Writers Club Sunday Brunch

A still-growing list of authors (Roy Blount Jr., Hollis Gillespie, Karen Abbott, Da Chen, Lee Smith, many more) will hold a private brunch at Sage Restaurant, 121 Sycamore St. 11 a.m. Sunday. Tickets: $45.

“A Threesome”

African-American authors of sexy popular fiction: Eric Jerome Dickey, Marissa Monteilh and Fiona Zedde. 5:30 p.m. Saturday at Old Courthouse.

The Good Ol’ Girls

Lee Smith, Marshall Chapman, Jill McCorkle and Matraca Berg perform a musical revue about the influence their books and music have had on one another. 8:30 p.m. Sunday at Eddie’s Attic on Decatur Square. Tickets: $20 in advance, $25 day of show.

“The Lottery”

Dance interpretation of the Shirley Jackson short story by Brooks & Company Dance. 7 p.m. Saturday at Emory University’s Performing Arts Studio.

Patterson Hood

Lead singer of Drive-By Truckers performs on the Decatur Square. 7:30 p.m. Sunday.

> FESTIVAL DETAILS: Friday through Sunday, Decatur, www.decaturbookfestival.com. Free, except for some evening musical concerts.

 WALTER CUMMING / wcumming@ajc.com
Illustration of people reading books in a park setting (downtown Decatur's old courthouse.)