Pat Conroy Literary Center

10/22/2026

40 years ago today, Georgia Writers Hall of Fame icon Pat Conroy's signature novel, "The Prince of Tides" was published. It had themes adopted from Pat's own family history. It is a beautiful, haunting, and sentimental look at a high school football coach's relationship with his own wife and children, his suicidal sister, the loss of his older brother, his "do anything to survive" mother, his lost father, and his affair with an understanding therapist, all set against the low country south and New York City. One of the great American Novels of the past century.

10/21/2026

Reason #11: Come for the books. Stay for the community.

Eleven reasons. Eleven years of celebrating the written word. And one extraordinary literary community.

Over the past several days, we've shared just a few of the reasons why the Pat Conroy Literary Festival means so much to readers, writers, and the Lowcountry.

But perhaps the most important reason isn't found on a schedule or inside the pages of a book.

It's the people.

The friendships formed over a shared love of reading. The conversations that continue long after an event ends. The connections between authors and readers. And the lasting legacy of a writer who believed deeply in the power of stories to bring us together.

Tomorrow, we open the 11th Annual Pat Conroy Literary Festival, and we hope you'll be part of it.

October 22–25, 2026
Beaufort, South Carolina

The stories bring us here. The connections bring us back.

See you at the festival!

10/20/2026

Reason #10: Explore Beaufort. The place that helped shape the stories.

There's a reason Beaufort holds such a special place in Pat Conroy's writing.

The waterfront, the marshes, the historic streets, and the people of the Lowcountry weren't simply a backdrop. They helped shape the stories that readers around the world have come to love.

As you attend the 11th Annual Pat Conroy Literary Festival, take a little time to explore the place that inspired so much of his work.

Walk along the waterfront. Discover the history. Enjoy the local restaurants and shops. And experience the beauty of the Lowcountry for yourself.

Here, the setting is part of the story.

October 22–25, 2026
Beaufort, South Carolina

We can't wait to welcome you.

10/20/2026

Attending the festival on Friday? Make lunch part of the plan.

Lowcountry Produce Market and Cafe will offer box lunches on Friday, October 23 — the ALTO Wrap, Pimento Cheese Sandwich, and Roast Turkey Sandwich, $17 each. Order by 10:00 AM at eat-lcp.com, and your lunch will be waiting in the lobby of the USC-B Center for the Arts at noon.

A food truck will also be available on site Friday and Saturday.

10/19/2026

One night. Two storytellers. You don't want to miss this.

Join us Thursday, October 29 at 5 PM for An Evening with Renea Wi******er, in conversation with Mary Ellen Thompson — live at the Pat Conroy Literary Center.

Free admission, but seating is limited. Call 843-379-7025 to reserve your spot.

601 Bladen Street, Beaufort. See you there.

10/19/2026

Reason #9: Meet the authors. Hear the stories behind the stories.

There’s something special about hearing an author talk about the words they’ve written, the characters they’ve created, and the experiences that inspired them.

At the 11th Annual Pat Conroy Literary Festival, readers and writers come together for conversations that go beyond the pages of a book.

From thought-provoking discussions to book signings and personal connections, this is your opportunity to spend time with the people who bring stories to life.

Because sometimes the best part of a good book is getting to know the person who wrote it.

Join us October 22–25 in Beaufort, South Carolina, as we celebrate the power of storytelling.

10/18/2026

Thursday, October 22 — the Pat Conroy Literary Center's VIP Preview Party, 5:30–8 PM at the Prince of Tides House on Bay Street.

Food, drinks, and good conversation in the home made famous by The Prince of Tides — plus the silent auction finale.

Sign-up closes Monday at 9 AM and only a handful of tickets remain. Don't miss the Center's biggest night of the year.

Tickets:

Join us for the 11th Annual Pat Conroy Literary Festival—a celebration of great writing, Southern voices, and the enduring legacy of Pat Conroy, featuring acclaimed authors, lively conversations, workshops, and more.

10/17/2026

Thursday, October 22 — the Pat Conroy Literary Center's VIP Preview Party, 5:30–8 PM at the Prince of Tides House on Bay Street.

Food, drinks, and good conversation in the home made famous by The Prince of Tides — plus the silent auction finale, with bidding closing at 7 PM sharp.

Sign-up closes Monday at 9 AM and only a handful of tickets remain. Don't miss the Center's biggest night of the year.

Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/11th-annual-pat-conroy-literary-festival-4866144/

10/15/2026

Reason #8: Spend an evening with The Great Santini.

Fifty years after its publication, we’re celebrating Pat Conroy’s unforgettable novel with a reception, an interview with actor Michael O’Keefe, and a screening of the film.

Join us Friday, October 23, for a chance to hear from one of the people who helped bring Conroy’s story to the screen.

October 23 | 4:30–7:30 p.m.
USCB Auditorium | 805 Carteret Street, Beaufort

Part of the 11th Annual Pat Conroy Literary Festival, October 22–25.

View the schedule and purchase tickets:
https://patconroyliterarycenter.org/festival/

10/12/2026

Sleep where Santini slept.

A 2-night stay in the Tidalholm guesthouse just hit the Conroy Festival auction block — the Beaufort home where *The Great Santini* (and *The Big Chill*) was filmed. This year marks 50 years since the novel's publication.

Bid on it here: https://givebutter.com/c/pat_conroy_auction/auction/items/2403821

Browse the full auction: https://givebutter.com/c/pat_conroy_auction