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Safety Tips

COVID-19 Health and Safety

  • To ensure a safe and healthy event experience for everyone, please do not attend if you are feeling ill or are within CDC recommended isolation timeframes after a positive test.
  • Masks are optional but encouraged when following CDC guidelines after a positive test; if distancing is not possible; for those who may be at increased risk; and anyone who feels more comfortable doing so.
  • Some authors may request that attendees wear masks during signing events.
  • Attendees are encouraged to wash their hands and use hand sanitizer regularly. Hand sanitizer stations are available throughout the venue.

What to Expect Upon Entry

  • Upon entering the Walter E. Washington Convention Center be prepared for weapons detection security screening. All guests will be subject to bag searches and walk-through magnetometers. This will also apply to reentry throughout the course of the day.
  • After clearing the security screening area, guests will be able to move freely around the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.
  • Increased security measures may be in place at the time of the Festival.

Tips for the National Book Festival

  • Festivalgoers should arrive early to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center to allow enough time to adjust to the festival’s safety screening protocol.
  • To avoid problems or confusion, the Library of Congress recommends festivalgoers limit the items they bring to the festival.
  • There will be no place to store or check items such as coats.

Non-Permitted Items

  • Dangerous weapons such as firearms (and their replicas), ammunition, fireworks, explosives, knives of any size, pointed objects, razors and box cutters, stun guns, pepper spray, mace and martial arts weapons (note: only District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department officers and federal law enforcement with proper credentials may carry their weapons)
  • Aerosol containers or flammable liquids
  • Protest materials, including picket signs and handouts, or public address systems
  • Wagons, oversized bags, and oversized large wheeled luggage
  • Any items intended for sale
  • Animals other than service animals
  • Bicycles or recreational motorized mobility devices
  • Coolers
  • Glass, thermal or metal containers
  • Balloons
  • Laser pointers
  • Any items that bring to question public safety deemed problematic by law enforcement

Permitted Items

  • 1 carry item (e.g. small backpack, rolling carry-on) max: 20 in. x 18 in. x 18 in.
  • 1 personal item (e.g. purse, handbag, slim tote)
  • Strollers with children are allowed in addition to your two items.

Any person attempting entry into the Walter E. Washington Convention Center with non-permitted items will be denied entry, and any person found on premises with non-permitted items will be escorted out of the convention center. **

**Security will not hold or store any prohibited items.