The California Independent Booksellers Alliance (CALIBA) Fall Fest 2025 takes place Wednesday, September 17, and Thursday, September 18, at the South San Francisco Conference Center in South San Francisco, Calif. Day one opens with a breakfast and author panel featuring past winners and finalists of CALIBA's Golden Poppy Awards, which recognize authors and illustrators working in California. Participants include Rex Ogle, Kelly Yang, and Claire Oshetsky. Author panels and education sessions run from 9:40 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with topics that include how to measure event success and handselling for the holidays. The 9:40 Nonfiction Author Panel features Nikki Nash, Sue Aikens, and Shannon Michelle. The exhibit floor opens from 3:50 to 6 p.m., starting with an exhibit hall opening reception at 3:40, featuring Georgia Freedman.
The exhibit floor opens again on day two at 10 a.m. and runs until 5, with a lunch break 12:30-1:30. Education sessions run from 10:15 to 12:20; topics include how to work with self-published authors and managing for cultural stewardship. Author panels and author showcases also take place during the day, including an author panel at 11:30 on humor in picture books featuring Matthew Diffee, Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic, and Katherine Pryor. The closing reception will be held from 4 to 5 p.m.
Authors Catriona Ward, Erin Entrada Kelly, Justinian Huang, Hiron Ennes, Oliver James, Marie Lu, JaNay Brown-Wood, and more who will be announced are expected to participate in events during both days of the conference.