The 21st Book Fair in Toledo has been inaugurated by Mayor Carlos Velázquez, who emphasised the event's new location in the town square and the expanded programme that now includes other venues such as the Parque del Tránsito and the Círculo de Arte. The fair is set to continue until 18 October and aims to establish itself as a significant cultural event not only in Castilla-La Mancha but also on a national and international level.
During the opening ceremony, Velázquez expressed gratitude to the Association of Booksellers, FEDETO (Federation of Business Organisations of Toledo), collaborating companies, and the municipal cultural team for their efforts in making this edition possible. He noted that this year's fair aspires to mark the beginning of a new era.
Among the highlights of this edition are the inclusion of Mexico in the programming, reflecting Toledo's historical and cultural ties with the country. The mayor underscored the importance of the partnership with Guanajuato, a city with which Toledo shares literary connections dating back to the Spanish Golden Age.
This year's fair features six bookstores and between 55 and 60 publishers, offering a range of activities including book presentations, signings, author meetings, workshops, storytelling sessions, and events for all ages. The town square will serve as the main venue, while the Parque del Tránsito and Círculo de Arte will host complementary activities.
Additionally, the fair has introduced a Professional Book Day, held on Tuesday at the town hall, aimed at fostering networking and exchange among industry professionals. Velázquez expressed his hope that this year's fair will surpass previous participation and sales records, reiterating the city's commitment to collaborating with the Association of Booksellers to enhance this cultural event and contribute to the city's vibrancy.
The mayor highlighted the significance of promoting reading as a healthy habit and a vital tool for learning and personal development, particularly among children and young people. He stated, “We must do everything in our power to encourage children, especially at a young age, to engage with reading,” while advocating for collaboration between public administrations and cultural groups to extend this habit to the entire community.
In conclusion, Velázquez remarked, “Reading improves comprehension, vocabulary, and memory, stimulates imagination, and allows us to discover other realities.” He reaffirmed the town hall's commitment to initiatives that bring books closer to people of all ages and backgrounds in Toledo.
The inaugural event was attended by various members of the Municipal Corporation, Elvira Rivero, representative of the Association of Booksellers of Toledo, Elena Catalán, the fair's coordinator, Manuel Madruga, Secretary General of FEDETO, and Alejandro de León Vargas, representative of the Mexican Embassy in Spain, who was invited to strengthen cultural ties between Toledo and the Latin American country.
