Beast Crawl Literary Festival

The Beast Crawl Literary Festival is Oakland's longest, continuous annual literary festival. Founded in 2012, it has run in one form or almost every year.

Now in our 14th year, 2026, we celebrate a change in format and change in organizing staff. Our goal remains the same...to provide top flight literary events and performances in various neighborhoods throughout Oakland, culminating in an annual festival that showcases the East Bay and the world's top literary writers and performers in local venues throughout the city of Oakland in the Black Arts Cultural District, Old Oakland and other neighborhoods throughout the city of Oakland.