The Casper College/ARTCORE "Equality State Book Festival" recently received grants totaling more than $48,722 from outside funders, according to a release from the college.

The festival is scheduled for Sept. 18-20 at the college and other venues around Casper.

According to Equality State Book Festival director Tom Rea, the festival will include readings, signings, panel discussions, writing workshops, author visits to the public schools, a daylong book fair with displays by publishers and archives, a banquet, and a late-night poetry slam. The National Historic Trails Center in Casper is also sponsoring a day of history related programs.

All events are free and open to the public, with the exception of the workshops and banquet.

Grants were received from the Natrona County School District, the Wyoming Cultural Trust, the Natrona County Board of Cooperative Educational Services, the Casper Area Convention and Visitors' Bureau, Wyoming Community Foundation's Schneider Fund, the Rocky Mountain Power Foundation, and the Wyoming Arts Council.

This is the third year for the festival, and the second time the event has been held in Casper. Last year's festival was in Cheyenne.

Rea said this is the 22nd year that Casper College and ARTCORE have collaborated on a fall literary event.

About 35 writers from all genres are scheduled to appear at the festival, including Alexandra Fuller, C.J. Box, Laurie Kutchins, Gary Ferguson, and John Gierach.

For more information, visit www.equalitystatebookfest.com.