bam! FESTIVAL will return april 11, 2026
BAM! FESTIVAL
2026 SCHEDULE
SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 2026
10:00 AM - 4:00 PM
A book, art, and music festival in downtown West Palm Beach, FL.
A book, art, and music festival in downtown West Palm Beach, FL.
A book, art, and music festival in downtown West Palm Beach, FL.
A book, art, and music festival in downtown West Palm Beach, FL.
ALL DAY
book sales
Books authored and illustrated by the BAM! Festival guests will be available for purchase during the festival hours: 10:00am-4:00pm.
Sales from the festival go toward the festival and a local bookstore in West Palm Beach.
Festival attendees may be given an opportunity to ask their festival favorite's to sign their personal books.
10:00 am
Illustrator Smackdown
Jamiel Law, Jarrett Lerner, Emily Martin, Zoe Persico
Cheer on your favorite authors and illustrators in a live, kid-judged drawing competition where YOU help decide what they create!
Suggest features for their characters, help shape their stories, and learn about their latest books in this fun, interactive event.
Panel Location: Auditorium
Flash Fiction
Stephen Kozan
Kick off your creativity with writing warm-ups led by author Stephen Kozan, then dive into the Flash Fiction Challenge.
One talented writer will win the chance to craft and publish their own book with Mr. Kozan’s publishing company and return to BAM! Festival 2026 as a published author!
Panel Location: Hibiscus Room
Challenging Stereotypes: Characters Who Defy Expectations
Allen Wells (M), Pablo Cartaya, George O’Connor, Khadijah VanBrakle, Kyla Zhao,
Forget clichés. The most powerful stories are the ones that flip them upside down. Meet the authors behind unforgettable characters—shy kids who find their courage, athletes who love science, reimagining traditional characters, and characters who challenge stereotypes and redefine what it means to be a hero.
Together, they’ll discuss how complex, surprising characters can inspire young readers to think differently about themselves and others.
Panel Location: Clematis Room
Building Stories that Resonate
Tony Keith (M), Tiffany D. Jackson, Cassandra James, Amar Shah
What makes a book feel like it was written just for you?
These authors will talk about how they bring their personal perspectives into their writing to create characters and stories that feel real, honest, and unforgettable.
From tapping into their own experiences to exploring voices that don’t always get heard, these authors show how the most powerful stories often come from a place of truth—and how that truth helps readers feel seen, understood, and inspired.
Panel Location: Children’s Programming Space
11:00 am
Picture Book Games
Zoe Persico (M), London Ladd, Emily Martin, Robin Newman, Teresa Rodrigues, Allen Wells
Get ready for the fun as authors and illustrators dive into book-themed games!
Watch them tell jokes, show off goofy dances, and share book secrets – all to win the title of Crayola King, Queen, or Monarch. Hosted by a brand new cohort of challengers, this lively showdown ends with one lucky winner claiming the coveted Crown of Crayons.
Who will it be?
Panel Location: Auditorium
Published Before 18
Stephen Kozan
Ever dreamed of writing a book?
So did the teens on this panel—and they made it happen! Discover how they wrote and published their own books, all before graduating high school.
Panel Location: Clematis Room
Hidden Truths and Twisty Tales
Brittany Cavallaro (M), Elana K. Arnold, Matthew Kirby, Ginny Myers Sain
Let’s dive into the world of mystery and thriller storytelling with these masters of suspense who will share insights into crafting gripping plots, building tension, and creating unforgettable characters that keep readers on the edge of their seats.
Whether it’s unraveling dark secrets or chasing elusive truths, this discussion will explore the unique challenges and thrills of writing mystery and thriller novels for a young adult audience.
Perfect for fans of heart-pounding suspense and aspiring writers eager to unlock the secrets behind a great mystery.
Panel Location: Children’s Programming Space
12:00 Pm
Collaboration Station
Teresa Rodrigues (M), London Ladd, Jamiel Law, Maisha Oso
Ever wonder how words and pictures come together to tell a story?
In this fun, interactive panel, authors and illustrators join forces to show how they collaborate to create picture books. The audience will also work together to imagine characters, craft a story, and design their own mini book.
Together, we’ll explore how storytelling and art work hand in hand to spark imagination and bring stories to life.
Perfect for curious readers, young artists, and future storytellers!
Panel Location: Auditorium
Comics & Captions
George O’Connor (M), Pablo Cartaya, Tiffany D. Jackson, Jarrett Lerner, Zoe Persico, Amar Shah
From bold heroes to heartfelt coming-of-age tales, comics and graphic novels are a vital part of young adult storytelling.
In this panel, Young Adult creators discuss how words and art combine to craft unforgettable stories, share insights into their creative process, and explore why graphic novels are so much more than pictures on a page.
Perfect for fans, aspiring artists, and anyone curious about the future of Young Adult comics!
Panel Location: Clematis Room
Love, Drama, and Bad Decisions
Kyla Zhao (M), Brittany Cavallaro, Cassandra James, Khadijah VanBrakle, Jeff Zentner
Stories for young readers often thrive on the messy intersections of love, conflict, and the impulsive choices that define coming of age.
Whether it’s first crushes, fractured friendships, or the high stakes of navigating family and identity, the tension between desire and consequence fuels compelling narratives that resonate beyond adolescence.
Let’s get candid about passion, mistakes, and the stories that illuminate the human experience through the lens of youth.
Panel Location: Children’s Programming Space
Storytime with Artist Gregory Dirr
Gregory Dirr
Join artist Gregory Dirr at his immersive, otherworldly installation, Canopy Realm, in the outdoor plaza at city hall near the library. Gregory will host an entertaining story time and craft celebrating his site-specific work.
ArtLife WPB, an Art in Public Places program in the City of West Palm Beach, partnered with the Mandel Public Library to hold hands-on workshops led by local artists selected in the third edition of The Commons: 5 Artists 5 Spaces: Endless Summer.
This local artist initiative supports artists in bringing their public artworks to the community and will conclude its latest edition with Gregory Dirr's workshop.
Panel Location: Courtyard between Library and City Center (Outside)
1:00 Pm
STEM Meets Story
Jarrett Lerner (M), Sudipta Bardhan-Quallan, Allen Wells
Discover the magic that happens when science, technology, engineering, and math meet imagination! In this hands-on session, explore how authors weave STEM ideas into fun stories that spark curiosity—and then bring those ideas to life by crafting your own mini robot grabber.
Perfect for young readers, inventors, and dreamers who love both facts and fiction!
Panel Location: Auditorium
Cultivating Compassion with Compelling Characters
Khadijah VanBrakle (M), Pablo Cartaya, Cassandra James, Tony Keith, Matthew Kirby
In a time when understanding feels more essential than ever, storytelling reminds us of our shared humanity.
This panel explores how fiction fosters empathy—inviting readers to step into unfamiliar lives, question assumptions, and discover compassion through the power of story.
Panel Location: CLematis Room
Spaces Between: Stories of Change
Elana K. Arnold (M), Tiffany D. Jackson, Ginny Myers Sain, Jeff Zentner
Change rarely announces itself. It lives in the quiet pauses, the difficult choices, the moments that divide who we were from who we're becoming.
Here we have a thoughtful conversation about growth, identity, and the stories that live in the spaces between.
Panel Location: Children’s Programming Space
2:00 Pm
Craft Your Own Character
Sudipta Bardhan-Quallan (M), Robin Newman, Maisha Oso
Get ready to bring your imagination to life! In this fun, hands-on panel, the audience will learn how authors create unforgettable characters—from brave heroes to silly sidekicks and everything in between.
Participants will have the chance to craft their own characters and explore what makes them special. Perfect for young creators who love to imagine, create, and tell stories!
Panel Location: Auditorium
Truth or Dare
Jamiel Law (M), Brittany Cavallaro, George O’Connor, Amar Shah, Kyla Zhao
Get ready for a thrilling and interactive panel where the stakes are high and the fun is endless!
Here the audience takes the reins by proposing prompts for our brave authors.
Watch as these talented writers reveal secrets about their creative processes, inspirations, and personal experiences— or take on daring challenges that push their boundaries!
Panel Location: Clematis Room
Monsters, Magic, and Moral Gray Areas
Matthew Kirby (M), Elana K. Arnold, Emily Martin, Ginny Myers Sain
Enter a world where not everything is as it seems! In this lively panel, authors explore how fantasy helps us navigate right and wrong, courage and fear, heroes and villains — and everything in between.
Join us for tales of misunderstood monsters, tough choices, and the magic that makes us question what it means to be good. Perfect for curious kids who love adventure, imagination, and mystery!