Books in Bloom, the region’s largest progressive book and literary festival, returns to Downtown Columbia for its seventh year on May 13. Presented by The Downtown Columbia Partnership along with The Howard Hughes Corporation (HHC), the festival celebrates the joy of books and meaningful dialogue all rooted in the spirit of Downtown Columbia’s diverse and forward-thinking community. This year’s festival will focus on building community through empathy and understanding by highlighting activism through literature, open dialogue, freedom of speech and banned books. The festival will build upon the ‘banned books’ theme while exploring themes of race, gender, diversity and freedom of expression and showcasing the important roles libraries play in our communities as educational centers and civic institutions. In addition to an incredible lineup of authors and speakers, attendees will enjoy a wide range of interactive family-friendly fun including a pop-up bookstore, a kid’s corner with crafts and activities, local food and drink specials, and more.