Watergate Scandal Reporter Headlines 6th Annual Books In Bloom 2022 May 15 In Howard Co.

HOWARD COUNTY, MD — The sixth annual Books in Bloom 2022 opens in downtown Columbia May 15 and features Washington, D.C. native Carl Bernstein—the author and Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post reporter who broke the Watergate story.

This year’s festival marks the 50th anniversary of Bernstein and fellow Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward's breaking reports of the Watergate scandal. Bernstein will discuss his latest memoir Chasing History: A Kid in the Newsroom, recalling his beginnings as a young journalist in Washington, D.C., with stories of the Kennedy era and the civil rights movement. Bernstein will join multiple authors discussing their featured works as well as the First Amendment and fight against censorship. This year’s festival adds a new “Banned Book Pop-Up” element for all ages, highlighting important literary works that have faced controversy and censorship.

“We are honored to welcome Carl Bernstein to the Merriweather District as the headliner of this year's Books in Bloom Festival, showcasing literature and the arts as powerful and necessary tools to enlighten and inspire audiences nationwide,” Phillip Dodge, executive director of the Downtown Columbia Partnership, said. “Festivals and community events that allow for conversation and education around diverse topics of social importance have never been more critical as we see legislators and school boards banning books that highlight marginalized groups and progressive ideas.”

Festival attendees will hear from some of the country’s top authors, shining a light on important topics facing our communities through the lens of literature and the arts. Past festivals have featured Pulitzer Prize-winning author and creator of the 1619 Project, Nikole Hannah-Jones, lead CNN anchor, Jake Tapper, author of New York Times bestseller White Fragility, Robin DiAngelo, chef José Andrés and more.

The festival and all associated events are free and open to the public. Additional authors and details to be announced later this month. For more information, visit www.booksinbloommd.com.