WHAT: The 17th annual Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, the largest and most prestigious public literary event in the country.

New for 2012 is the dedication of U.S. stamps that honor 20th century poets with U.S. Postal Service selection committee member and USC faculty member, Dana Gioia; a book drive especially benefitting the USC Family of Schools in South Los Angeles, an expanded outdoor food area.

Visit http://events.latimes.com/festivalofbooks/  and http://festivalofbooks2012.usc.edu/ for more information.

WHEN: April 21-22

             Saturday 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

             Sunday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Saturday highlights from the USC stage include:

10 a.m. ­– Festival Kickoff with the Trojan Marching Band and a joint welcome from Los Angeles Times Publisher and CEO Eddy Hartenstein, Los Angeles Times President Kathy Thomson and USC President C. L. Max Nikias.

11:40 a.m. – Music: Inner City Youth Orchestra

12:50 a.m. – Theater: Mel Baron: Fotonovelas and Health Education

2 p.m. – Music: Superaxe

3:10 p.m. – Spoken Word: Davon Johnson

4:20 p.m. – Music: Derik Nelson

5:30 p.m. – Music: USC Thornton Jazz Honors Combo

Sunday highlights from the USC stage include:

10 a.m. – Music: Trojan Marching Band

11:40 a.m. – Bravo High School Latin Jazz Band

12:50 p.m. – Music: The Trojan Men a cappella

2 p.m. – Music: Caitlin Notey

3:10 p.m. – Spoken Word: Davon Johnson

4:20 p.m. – Music: Cinematic Guitar Ensemble

WHO: Hundred of authors and performers including Judy Blume, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Julie Andrews and more. A complete list can be found on the LA Times website here: http://events.latimes.com/festivalofbooks/authors/

WHERE: USC University Park Campus, just south of the I-10 (Santa Monica) Freeway and west of the 110 (Harbor) Freeway.

PARKING: $10 per day in various USC-area parking lots. In addition, there are several public transit options available, including the free Bullseye Bus that will run continuously between Union Station and USC. More details, including a parking map, can be found here: https://festivalofbooks2012.usc.edu/public-transportation/