Downtown L.A.'s relatively new green space at Grand Park has a slogan, “the park for everyone,” which seems fitting to cover events from farmers markets to free concerts to yoga classes. Of course, there's nothing better to do on a park bench than read a book, and with the current proliferation of independent publishers and booksellers, a high concentration of whom are based in and around downtown, the all-day Grand Park Book Fest is sure to become a tradition. There are kid-friendly bilingual readings in the morning, a DJ in the afternoon, food trucks all day, book-making demos, a bustling performance stage and historical tours of the park and environs from Mike Sonksen, aka Mike the Poet — everyone's favorite soulful city historian. 826LA, the Central Library, Libros Schmibros and a veritable armada of indie presses purveying literature, art books, poetry, memoirs and the in-between (such as Siglio Press, Punk Hostage Press, Bluecanvas, Zero+ Publishing and the Rattling Wall) are in on the action; plus, organizers Writ Large Press and the Last Bookstore curate a pop-up bookstore offering new work from these and all the impressive participants. Remember, it's your city, it's your park and it's your mind to cultivate, because even in this fast-paced, Instagram world, reading is still fundamental. Grand Park, 200 N. Grand Ave., dwntwn.; Sat., March 2, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; free. (213) 972-8080, grandparkla.org.

Sat., March 2, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., 2013

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