JACKSON, Miss. (WJTV) – Book lovers from across the state gathered in downtown Jackson for the 10th annual Mississippi Book Festival.

According to officials, more than 40,000 people attended the festival on Saturday, September 14. The downtown area was a hotspot for food trucks, live music, book signings and panel discussions.

“This is fantastic. I absolutely love it. It’s my first time, and I’m getting to meet a lot of new people. I get to see the state of Mississippi, which I’ve never been to before, such a well organized event. And everyone here loves books, and so that makes it even more special,” said Taryn Souders, an author and panelist from Florida.

Hundreds of contemporary authors were able to connect with fans and new readers in the capital city.