FAQs

In short, YA By the Bay is a two-day festival created to celebrate teen literature. 

• Friday, October 13, 2023: Closed to the public. YA authors will teach Tampa Bay area teens the ins and outs of writing in a series of author panels and workshops. 
• Saturday, October 14, 2023: Open to the public. Here, the community is invited to come celebrate a love of reading with author signings, a cosplay contest, trivia, raffle prizes, book panels, vendors, and much, much more culminating in the delivery of writing scholarships and a Poetry Slam to end the night.

YA by the Bay takes place on the first floor of the Tampa Bay Convention Center located at 333 S. Franklin St, Tampa, FL 33602.

It’s free for students, though there will be optional books, goods, food, and beverages for sale. There will be an admission ticket for the general public.

The Convention Center parking is one place you can park, though there are many garages downtown. Daily parking is “Pay By Plate” with a maximum daily rate of $12.00 per day. Please refer to signage on site to pay for parking using the ParkMobile app for Zone 9912. Payment can also be made at the pay stations located conveniently on both the top and bottom levels of the garage. The pay stations are exact change only.

The festival will be from 9 am to 5 pm on Saturday, October 14^th. There will be panel discussions throughout the day with author signings too. We will finish the day with a keynote speaker. A detailed schedule will be posted here closer to the event. 

We love that you want to learn more about our authors! Check out their profiles here.

If you are an educator interested in bringing students on Friday, October 13^th for the “Student and Educator only” day, please email info@yabythebay.org with your interest.

We will be releasing volunteer opportunities soon. Fill out the volunteer interest form here so you will be first to know when they come out.

The Tampa Bay Convention Center offers a variety of options from Datz Deli, Coffee Bar, Central Eats, East Grill, West Grill, Nourish, and Big Ray’s Fish Camp in the Sail Plaza. Jackson’s, Harpoon Harry’s, and Anchor and Brine are also a short walk from the convention center. 

Yes! YA By the Bay is partnering with The Oxford Exchange to bring you a full collection of attending authors’ books. The book sale area will be set up near the authors’ signing tables. There will also be pre-signed books available for purchase with credit cards and cash. 

Three. You may get back in line as often as you like for others. 

For every 2 books purchased, you may bring 1 book from home to get signed. 

There are a variety of hotels near the Tampa Convention Center and downtown, including but not limited to the Embassy Suites, Waterside Marriott, Hyatt Place, and Aloft. In addition, check out Visit Tampa Bay’s page for a robust listing of downtown Tampa hotels.

From Riverwalk to beaches and historic districts to eclectic restaurants, Tampa is a vibrant city with something for everyone. Whether you’re here for just the day or longer, you should check out Visit Tampa Bay to learn more about all the exciting things to do in the Bay area.