Books, Bubbly, and Big Names: Inside Authors Night, the Literary Affair of the Season

Each summer, as East Hampton basks in its golden-hour glow, an altogether different kind of star-studded soirée graces the calendar — not of screen legends or socialites (though they may attend), but of storytellers.

On Saturday, August 9, bibliophiles, beachgoers, and boldface names will gather under a grand tent in Herrick Park in East Hampton Village for the 21st annual Authors Night, a signature event hosted by the East Hampton Library.

Now entering its third decade, Authors Night has blossomed from a modest fundraiser into what many consider the premier literary event of the summer season. Featuring 100 celebrated authors across fiction, nonfiction, cookbooks, memoirs, and more, this beloved gathering offers a rare blend of glamour and gravitas, champagne and chapter books.

“The funds raised at Authors Night allow us to continue offering essential programs and services — completely free of charge — to our diverse community all year long,” Dennis Fabiszak, executive director of the East Hampton Library said in a release about this year’s event.

And in a town where cocktail parties and charity galas are par for the course, Authors Night stands apart — an event where conversation is king, and the guest list reads like a bestseller list.

The evening unfolds in two acts: At 5 p.m., guests arrive for the Authors Reception, sipping wine and nibbling hors d’oeuvres while mingling with writers and having books personally inscribed. Then, at 8 p.m., the action moves offsite to private homes across East Hampton, where intimate dinner parties are held in honor of one (or more) of the evening’s authors.

Tickets for the Authors Reception are $150, while dinner party admission begins at $500 — a small price for an unforgettable evening of literary enchantment.

All proceeds support the East Hampton Library, a cherished community resource since 1897. For more information or to reserve tickets, visit authorsnight.org.