Sun Valley Writers’ Conference (SVWC) is excited to bring some of the country’s brightest writers, innovators, scientific experts, playwrights, poets, and policymakers to Sun Valley each summer, to discuss their latest work and important world issues. We believe in sharing this experience and inspiring curious minds, especially within the Wood River Valley, in local libraries, and in classrooms throughout Idaho. That is why we have opened our doors each year, both virtually and in-person, to make each SVWC even more accessible to our community.

Our Full Conference Passes (including our half-price Next Generation Passes for those 35 and under) and our Single Event Tickets have sold out quickly. But luckily, with free Pavilion lawn talks, free livestreaming, free talks for local students and teachers, and a free Community Speaker Series, as well as free online audio and video recordings in our digital media library, there are still plenty of ways to get involved and get inspired this year. Below you’ll find all of our free community events and programming for 2023. For more information and up-to-date details, visit svwc.com/free.

1. FREE Pavilion Lawn Talks

We welcome members of the local community to enjoy select SVWC Pavilion Talks for free with seating on the lawn. Bring picnics, blankets, and low-back chairs and join us July 22-24 to hear some of the world’s most inspiring minds at work. Talks will be broadcast live to the Pavilion lawn big screen. Seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. You are also welcome to browse in the Bookstore Tent and join us for book signings. No registration or ticketing required.  If you would prefer to join us inside the Sun Valley Pavilion, we have a few single event tickets still available (but selling fast) for select Pavilion Talks at svwc.com/single-event-tickets. For a complete schedule and more details, visit svwc.com/free-lawn-talks.

2. FREE Community Speaker Series

SVWC is partnering with The Community Library to host free evening lectures for the local community, bookending this year’s Sun Valley Writers’ Conference (July 22-24). They will be held at 6:00pm on July 19 (Javier Zamora) and July 25 (Curtis Sittenfeld) at The Community Library. Registration is required. Visit svwc.com/community-speaker-series for more details.

3. FREE Livestreaming

Even if you can’t join us in person, you can still livestream select talks from this summer’s Sun Valley Writers’ Conference. You don’t have to leave your home to witness some of the country’s—and the world’s—best writers and thinkers. Free virtual events will take place July 22-24 on our website. Registration is required. For a complete schedule, up-to-date details, and to register, visit svwc.com/livestream.

4. FREE Digital Content

Did you know that we have a free online media library of digital content at svwc.com? It includes some of the best and most popular talks from the last 25 years, our very own Beyond the Page podcast, SVWC audio and video recordings, and livestreaming of select content from the last few years. You can experience all the best of SVWC at your leisure, from the comfort of your own home. Recordings of 2023 talks will be posted for viewing/listening soon after Conference, pending author permissions. Click on “Watch & Listen” from our website homepage to explore our entire media library.

5. FREE for Local Students, Teachers, and Library Staff

In an effort to share the SVWC experience with our community, local Wood River Valley students, teachers, and library staff are invited to attend Pavilion Talks for free! We have limited space, so please check in beforehand to make sure there is seating available. To get your free pass, visit the Bookstore Tent’s Info Desk on the Sun Valley Pavilion lawn 30 minutes prior to each talk. Please bring proof of identification in the form of a school or library ID.

Photo credit: Ryan Romero