Lisbon Book Fair: bigger than ever and with a new schedule

For 88 years the Lisbon Book Fair has filled us with excuses to fill the shelves at home. The event returns to Parque Eduardo VII this Friday, 25, and each year grows to be the biggest edition ever. In 2018 there are 294 pavilions, competing with the 286 from last year.

One of the novelties of this year is the change of the H Hour - the initiative that leads many people to try the best deal for this or that book. The time of the fair changed, closing one hour earlier from Sunday to Thursday at 10:00 p.m. But rest, that the H Hour happens to be the same, now between 21.00 and 22.00. The rules are simple: from Monday to Thursday, you can buy with a minimum discount of 50%, books that have been released for more than 18 months. Adhering to it are publishers such as Saída de Emergência, Leya, Porto Editora, Esfera dos Livros, Guerra e Paz, Presença, and Tinta da China.

In 2017, the Lisbon Book Fair received 537 thousand visitors, about 29 thousand a day, and the objective of this year is to exceed this number. 2018 is also the year in which the Lisbon Book Fair grows to the north, which will make you climb another few meters if you want to fill your belly in between the purchases because that is where the food court will be. The Grand Auditorium that occupied this space in other editions is now at the main entrance of the Fair, next to the Marquês. Next to the Auditorium, visitors can see the exhibition "88 years of images with history", a retrospective of previous years - since the 1930s, with the first editions of the event in Rossio.

The west side will be occupied by showcookings - almost 30 sessions are scheduled, with a focus on healthy eating and alternative lifestyles.

And to combat the heat that often plagues Lisboners who climb and descend Eduardo VII Park infinitely, the director of the Fair also announced that "the squares will have greater overshadowing to improve the conditions of visitors." If you want to wear the jersey seriously as a fan of the Lisbon Book Fair, straw hats will also be on sale as part of the merchandising, a novelty of this edition.

Fair of the Little Ones

"About 12% of Fair visitors take children, so the activities for them are very important," said Pedro Pereira da Silva, Fair director, during the press conference on Monday about the domino and giant chess rug that promise to entertain entire families.

And this is yet another year in which Story Camp lightens up the Book Fair. For the fourth time, on May 25th, 26th and 30th and 1st, 2nd, 8th, 9th and 12th of June, the kids can set up tent in the Cold Greenhouse and camp there all night. During the activity, the children will have reading and illustration sessions with children's authors.

The Lisbon Library Network is again one of the great partners and promoters of the children's and youth activities that take place throughout the fair every day. "In a partnership with the National Reading Plan, we are going to do on June 13th a Reading Network to promote the importance of reading in younger audiences," said Susana Silvestre, BLX representative.

On the official website of the Lisbon Book Fair you can consult the entire program, by days and with the respective schedules.

Parque Eduardo VII. Mon-Thu 12.30-22.00; Fri 12.30-00.00; Sat 11.00-00.00 e Sun 11.00-22.00. Free admission.