Presented by the Ray Bradbury Center at Indiana University – Indianapolis, the fourth annual Festival 451Indy returns just in time for National Literacy Month in September.
Named for Bradbury’s classic “Fahrenheit 451,” the festival is a citywide celebration of the humanities, bringing together literature, film, performance arts and community storytelling in partnership with local organizations, such as Indy Reads, Kan-Kan Cinema and The District Theatre. Featuring five signature events and interactive workshops Sept. 6-Oct. 5, Festival 451Indy aims to be a “celebration of the humanities,” inspired by the life and legacy of author Ray Bradbury, according to a press release.
“Festival 451indy is a celebration of the enduring power of Ray Bradbury’s legacy and a call to embrace ‘Fierce Imagination’ in our own lives,” Carrie Cooper of the Ray Bradbury Center said in a statement. “This year’s festival aims to help us navigate a rapidly changing world and form an active reading life. And nobody is better than the best-selling author Mary Robinette Kowal, whose work perfectly exemplifies the curiosity and civic imagination that Bradbury championed to help us do that.”
READ MORE: New music festival strives to bring global sounds to International District
This year, the festival’s theme is “Fierce Imagination” and hopes to inspire guests to “unleash” said fierce imagination by exploring how “storytelling, creativity, and cultural memory can help us navigate a rapidly changing world,” according to a press release.
The 2025 Festival 451Indy is headlined by Hugo, Nebula and Locus Award–winning author Mary Robinette Kowal, who will present a keynote discussion on alternate histories, resilience and “the stories that prepare us for the future,” according to a press release. The special event will also honor Bradbury’s legacy by highlighting contemporary authors who embrace curiosity and civic imagination.
Additional community partners working to bring Hoosiers Festival 451indy workshops, author discussions, multilingual readings and literary film screenings include Indy Type Shop, IF Theatre, Tomorrow Bookstore and genesis art & literary magazine.
The fourth annual Festival 451Indy takes place Sept. 6-Oct. 5. For more information, to view a complete schedule of events or register, visit festival451indy.substack.com.
Contact Arts & Culture Reporter Chloe McGowan at 317-762-7848. Follow her on X @chloe_mcgowanxx.
Chloe McGowan is the Arts & Culture Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper. Originally from Columbus, OH, Chloe has a bachelor's in journalism from The Ohio State University. She is a former IndyStar Pulliam Fellow, and has previously worked for Indy Maven, The Lantern, and CityScene Media Group. In her free time, Chloe enjoys live theatre, reading, baking and keeping her plants alive.
