Good food, craft beer and bourbon, live music, and a great time talking about books and Southern culture under the live oaks: That's what the tenth annual Walker Percy Weekend has to offer.

Intellectually serious but delivered with a glass of bourbon and a grin, the annual festival invites fans of Southern literature to pursue appreciation of Percy’s thought and writing while attending presentations by renowned scholars, panel discussions, participatory book clubs, and spirited social and culinary events inspired by the author’s most famous works. Events take place at locations around St. Francisville’s historic district.

During this tenth (and likely final) festival, participating authors, academics, and comics will explore the theme

The Last Laugh:

Celebrating Southern Wit, Wisdom, and Ten Years of the Walker Percy Weekend

From conversations around faith, humor and philosophy in Walker Percy's South, to the comic wisdom of Southern writers past and present, the tenth annual Walker Percy Weekend considers how Percy and the Southern writers who followed him use humor and satire to find meaning in our absurd moment.

See the 2025 Speaker and Panelist lineup HERE.

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Schedule Highlights

FRIDAY

• 2pm–4:30pm: Registration & check-in at The Conundrum Bookstore, 11917 Ferdinand Street.

• 5pm–6:30pm: Grand Opening Reception at the Freyhan School, 4727 Fidelity Street.

• 7pm–10pm: Live concert featuring Grammy-nominated Louisiana native Sonny Landreth Trio, presented by The Republic and Red Dragon. At the Freyhan School. (separate ticket required)

SATURDAY

• 8:30am–11:30am: Morning Lectures and Panel Discussions on themes explored in the books of Walker Percy and other Southern writers. The Freyhan School, 4727 Fidelity Street.

• Noon–1:30 pm: Book Club Lunches: Spirited discussions of Percy works led by festival presenters. Box lunch provided. The Freyhan Center & Temple Sinai

• 2pm–4:30pm: Afternoon Lectures and Panel Discussions on themes explored in the books of Walker Percy and other Southern writers. The Freyhan School, 4727 Fidelity Street

• 5 pm–7 pm Saturday: The traditional, Progressive Front-Porch Tour and Bourbon Tasting with hors d'oeuvres, inspired by Percy's essay on drinking bourbon, neat. Stroll with bourbon-based-beverages in hand between several private porches in St. Francisville's historic district. Must be 21 or over to attend, obviously.

• 7pm–9:30pm Saturday: The Taste of Louisiana Southern Supper, presented with a selection of local craft beers, served at the Freyhan School in the heart of the Historic District.

• 9pm–'til: Late Night Pub Trivia with the Padre: Close down the 10th annual Walker Percy Weekend with some late night Southern lit trivia with Father Brad Doyle at the Oyster Bar (11101 Ferdinand St. Cash bar)

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Registration & Tickets

Registration begins at 2 pm Friday at the Conundrum Bookstore, located at 11917 Ferdinand Street. Come to the bookstore to register, receive tickets and wristbands, and gather information on area dining, accommodation, and attractions.

Access All Events

Lectures • Bourbon Stroll • Taste of Louisiana • Trivia with the Padre: $275*

* Separate ticket required for Red Dragon Concert featuring Sonny Landreth Trio

Parties & Social Events Only

Progressive Front Porch Bourbon Stroll. $85. No panels included

Taste of Louisiana Supper. $75. No panels included

*The Republic and Red Dragon presents Grammy-nominated Louisiana native Sonny Landreth Trio

$70 VIP • $50 General Admission

Saturday Lectures & Panels only

$125** after September 1 (**if space remains)

• Space at lectures is limited. Arrive early to secure a seat.

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The 10th annual Walker Percy Weekend is made possible by

Available Sponsorship Packages

$1500 "The Moviegoer" package. 2 all-inclusive tickets to WPW events including lectures and social events, plus 2 additional tickets to the Saturday night Bourbon Stroll and “Taste of Louisiana Dinner’ to share with friends • Recognition on all printed material, website and social media.

$3000 The "Message in a Bottle" package. 4 all-inclusive tickets to WPW events including lectures and social events, plus 4 additional tickets to the Saturday night Bourbon Stroll and “Taste of Louisiana Dinner’ to share with friends • Recognition on all printed material, website and social media • Your logo on digital billboards in Baton Rouge two weeks prior to weekend.

$5000 The "Lost in the Cosmos" package. 6 all-inclusive tickets to WPW events including lectures and social events, plus 4 additional tickets to the Saturday night Bourbon Stroll and “Taste of Louisiana Dinner’ to share with friends • Recognition on all printed material, website and social media • Your logo on digital billboards in Baton Rouge two weeks prior to weekend.

$10,000 "The Last Gentleman" package. 10 all-inclusive tickets to WPW events including lectures and social events, plus 6 additional tickets to the Saturday night Bourbon Stroll and “Taste of Louisiana Dinner’ to share with friends • Recognition on all printed material, website and social media. Your logo on digital billboards in Baton Rouge two weeks prior to weekend.

Email admin@walkerpercyweekend.org to learn more

Festival proceeds support the JULIUS FREYHAN FOUNDATION—an organization dedicated to restoring the historic Freyhan School building to serve as a community and cultural center for West Feliciana Parish.

A note to returning attendees: We are overjoyed to report that restoration work on the Freyhan School building will be completed this summer. In plenty of time for the building to host the 2025 Walker Percy Weekend. AT LAST!

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FAQs & More Info

• For local accommodation options and to make reservations, look to www.visitstfrancisvillela.com/stay

• The closest airport, Baton Rouge Metropolitan Airport (BTR), is approximately 30 minutes drive from St. Francisville. New Orleans International Airport (MSY) is about 90 minutes drive.

• Getting around: For getting to and from the airport, renting a car is your best bet. Car rental is available from BTR or MSY airports. In St. Francisville, most festival activities take place within the (walkable) historic district. The town has a 15-passenger trolley providing free shuttle transport between stops around town. The trolley runs 10 am–10 pm. Fridays and Saturdays, and noon–5 pm Sundays. To schedule pickup, call or text (225) 721-7060. Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft are not reliably available in St. Francisville, although a few drivers do operate during festival weekends.

• Cancellations & Refunds: Funds raised from sponsorship and ticket sales for the Walker Percy Weekend benefit the Julius Freyhan Foundation, a not-for-profit foundation dedicated to restoring the historic Freyhan School building to serve as a community and cultural center for West Feliciana Parish. As such, all ticket purchases are considered donations to the foundation. No refunds are available.

• Kids. We love 'em! We have 'em! But since the Walker Percy Weekend program consists of seated lectures and social events amply supplied with adult beverages, it really isn't designed with young children in mind. If you do need to bring your kids, please know that we cannot make special accommodations for them, or provide exceptions from the ticketing fees. We do hope you understand.

• For more information on individual events please visit www.walkerpercyweekend.org or email admin@walkerpercyweekend.org. To see the full schedule visit : https://www.walkerpercyweekend.org/full-schedule