YA-hoo Fest Features 30 Authors For Teens

  • Wednesday, July 17, 2019

Southern Lit Alliance and Chattanooga State Community College’s Writers@Work program present Chattanooga’s second annual young adult book festival, YA-hoo Fest, on Saturday, Sept. 21.

The free festival will take place on the campus of Chattanooga State Community College, 4501 Amnicola Highway, from 9:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. Featuring 30 authors of young adult literature, YA-hoo Fest will include readings, panel discussions, book sales, author signings, live music, vendors, and fun activities. This year’s keynote speaker will be author Jeff Zentner.

On Friday afternoon in advance of the weekend festivities, many of the featured authors will visit local middle and high schools, including the Howard School, East Lake Academy, Boyd Buchanan School, Lookout Valley Middle and High School, and Red Bank High School among others. 

One exciting new change at this year’s festival is the addition of First Draft with Sarah Enni Live! on Friday night at 630pm. Join us in the Chattanooga State Community College Humanities Theatre  for an evening of fun, games, and storytelling, at a live taping of the critically-renowned First Draft with Sarah Enni podcast. Creator and host Sarah Enni will welcome some of YA-hoo Fest's most anticipated visiting authors to the stage to share their stories, play some games, and answer audience questions. Tickets to this exciting and interactive new event are available for just $5 at www.yahoofest.org

YA-hoo Fest’s Saturday events are offered free of charge in celebration of young adult and middle grades literature, the authors who write it, and the readers who love it. A complete schedule, including the festival lineup and additional information about the participating authors, can be found at yahoofest.org. YA-hoo Fest can also be found on Instagram as yahoo.fest, on Facebook as YAhooFestChatt, and on Twitter as @YAhooFestival.  

For more information, or to become a sponsor of the YA-hoo Festival, contact Lynda LeVan, Executive Director of the Southern Lit Alliance, at 423.267.6718.

Student Scene
Local Students Receive College Honors
  • 7/3/2025

The 176th Commencement Exercises of Rhodes College took place on campus May 17. The college awarded more than 500 degrees, including the Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Master of Science ... more

Chattanooga State Students Turn Skills Into Success At SkillsUSA National Competition
Chattanooga State Students Turn Skills Into Success At SkillsUSA National Competition
  • 7/3/2025

Last week, 25 Chattanooga State students and 16 advisers traveled to Atlanta to participate in the SkillsUSA 2025 National Leadership & Skills Conference, and 12 returned victorious. "The ... more

Marion County Teacher Advances In 2025-26 Tennessee Teacher Of The Year Finalists
  • 7/2/2025

Today, the Tennessee Department of Education announced Ashley Mosley of Jasper Elementary School in Marion County as one of the nine finalists for the 2025-26 Tennessee Teacher of the Year award. ... more