Book lovers young and old, man and woman, solo or with friends, flocked from across the United States to the Walter E. Washington Convention Center Saturday Sept. 24, 2016, for the 16th annual National Book Festival sponsored by the Library of Congress. This year’s festival featured over 100 authors — including Stephen King — giving visitors the opportunity between 8:30 a.m. and 10 p.m. to hear presentations, meet-and-greet with their favorite authors, participate in interactive activities, purchase books and have their novels signed.

Renowned author Stephen King opened the Main Stage of the 16th annual National Book Festival Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016, giving a presentation recognizing his life long work of promoting literacy. King’s novels were featured in the book sale area of the festival on the Lower Level of the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. (Jordan Stovka/Bloc Reporter)

Bookworms felt perfectly at home at the 16th annual National Book Festival at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center held Saturday Sept. 24, 2016. The book sales area located on the Lower Level features books by festival authors and illustrators, organized by genre. (Jordan Stovka/Bloc Reporter)

The Library of Congress National Book Festival held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center held Saturday Sept. 24, 2016 welcomed over 100 authors, with their works featured in the festival’s book sales area. (Jordan Stovka/Bloc Reporter)

College Park, Md. resident, Kelli Wade, 31, reads the inside cover of the 2015 coming-of-age novel “All American Boys” by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely at the 16th annual Library of Congress National Book Festival. Wade, who has always wanted to come to the festival, found herself at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center for the first time Saturday Sept. 24, 2016. (Jordan Stovka/Bloc Reporter)

The Walter E. Washington Convention Center was expected to see about 100,000 visitors for the 16th annual National Book Festival Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. The Lower Level (pictured) featured book signings, book sales, daytime activities sponsored by The Washington Post, a “Pavilion of the States Exhibit” and much more. (Jordan Stovka/Bloc Reporter)

Talia Seriy, 33, and Frank Orellana, 29, both from Silver Spring, pose for a photo with the popular children’s character, Captain Underpants at the National Book Festival in the Washington Convention Center Saturday, Sept. 24, 2016. (Jordan Stovka/Bloc Reporter)

The Library of Congress hopes to promote the importance of books and support the love of reading with the 16th annual National Book Festival Saturday Sept. 24 2016. According to the festival’s welcome video, the event expected over 100,000 visitors. (Jordan Stovka/Bloc Reporter)

Martha Gay, 70, travelled from her home in Downingtown, Pa. to attend the National Book Festival in D.C. Saturday Sept. 24, 2016 for a second year. Gay hand-selected a pile of six books to purchase, however assured that this haul was “not as many as last year.” (Jordan Stovka/Bloc Reporter)

10-year-old Bella Nguyen from Arlington, Va. reads books from the children’s table with her “bud” Ruth Tam, 25, a Washington, D.C. resident at the 16th Annual National Book Festival Saturday Sept. 24, 2016. (Jordan Stovka/Bloc Reporter)

Featured Photo Credit: The 16th annual Library of Congress National Book Festival took over the Washington Convention Center Saturday September 24, 2016. From 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., visitors could expect book signings, author presentations, children’s activities and a vast selection of novels for sale. (Jordan Stovka/Bloc Reporter)

Jordan Stovka is a sophomore journalism major and can be reached at jstovka@icloud.com.