The annual Walker Percy Weekend will be held this weekend on June 1 & 2nd. This has become my favorite annual event in St Francisville because it is the perfect combination of literature and southern hospitality in a beautiful setting.
Now in it’s fifth year The Walker Percy Weekend brings together fans of southern literature from around the country, and even outside of it, to celebrate the writings of novelist and essayist Walker Percy while enjoying all that southern hospitality has to offer. Starting with a Friday night gala, the weekend continues with discussions and lectures from noted scholars and writers on the works of Walker Percy during the day on Saturday. Each year we add another southern writer into the mix. This year, we have chosen to include Shelby Foote whose friendship with Walker Percy influenced both writers. We will have the honor of having both Mary Pratt Percy Lobdell (Walker Percy’s daughter), and Huger Foote (Shelby’s Foote’s son) join us to take part in the events. Saturday afternoon continues with a stroll among the front porches of St Francisville’s historic district where, in commemoration of Walker Percy’s Bourbon essay , patrons will enjoy a selection of different cocktails. This event is followed by a Crawfish boil held in the center of town.
By the end of Saturday night attendees will have rekindled friendships made at this event in previous years, have made new friends, have taken part in stimulating literary discussions, and will be making plans to be with us again the next year. The one thing that is certain is that is that once you attend The Walker Percy Weekend you will want to come back to see us again.
As of this writing there are very few tickets available to the events at www.walkerpercyweekend.org . If you can join us, don’t wait any longer, it looks like this year will once again be a sellout!