Read by the Sea - July 11, 2026
Dream of a sunny day, relaxing in a lawn chair, a cool drink in your hand, listening to Canada’s finest authors reading to YOU! That’s Read by the Sea Summer Literary Festival on the North Shore of Nova Scotia.
In 2000, a small group of women from Nova Scotia’s North Shore established Read by the Sea as a means of bringing some of Canada’s best authors to the region each summer. Initially a one-day event with four authors reading to a small crowd, the festival grew to include up to 12 authors in varying roles, with an annual audience that almost doubles the population of the village of River John.
More than 25 years later, Read by the Sea has evolved to include a variety of exciting events.
Read by the Sea aims to promote Canadian literature by celebrating good books, the people who write them and the people who read them; and by encouraging new or non-readers to discover the joy of reading. The festival fosters diversity and accessibility to both the authors and the audience, regardless of cultural, racial, gender, age, ability, socioeconomic or other circumstances.
In order to encourage everyone to participate, there are no admission fees to Read by the Sea events – although the festival does accept donations to support its mandate. Remember to bring your lawn chair, sunscreen, sun hat, and a picnic lunch (if you wish). The authors’ books will be for sale at the sites where they read (cash only please).
The authors will also sign books for audience members upon request.
Read by the Sea Main Stage
Enjoy author readings and interviews by some of the areas finest authors in beautiful River John. Picnics welcome!
Pitch the Publisher
Reader Participation
We want to hear from you! Please send us your memories or stories of attending previous years of Read by the Sea
“What do you get when you put together a dedicated group of book-loving volunteers brimming with rural Nova Scotia hospitality, a beautiful riverside location, a collection of amazing people who write books for all ages with a desire to share a weekend promoting the love of reading? You get the summer festival know as READ BY THE SEA! I have had the great good fortune to attend the festival in years past and I shall forever be grateful to READ BY THE SEA for the part its gracious people played in my author journey. “ – Lana Shupe, WordPlay author 2022
“I remember how welcoming everyone was, like I was the cat’s meow! Meeting Terry Fallis was a highlight and his mother-in-law Bernice. I had to hug her, because my mom’s name was Bernice. I was given a bottle of whiskey with my name on it! My son was very impressed. A large friendly crowd gathered indoors because of the weather and it was very cozy. (Pre-Covid!!!) Read by the Sea was one of my first writers’ festivals and being there made me start to believe that maybe I was a writer!”
Lesley Crewe – author of Amazing Grace, The Spoon Stealer, Nosey Parker and more