Walker Percy Centennial Celebration

Come one, come all to the inaugural Walker Percy Day, to be held Saturday, October 22, 2016, at The Altamont School in Birmingham! Hosted by the Altamont Alumni Association, the Walker Percy Symposium will celebrate and honor the 100th birthday of the Birmingham native, Birmingham University School alumnus, and National Book Award winner Walker Percy.

The afternoon will kick-off at 1:00pm with a read-a-thon of The Moviegoer, Percy's most famous novel, led by distinguished alumni who will bring the words of the beloved novel to life for a unique experience. Also at 1:00pm will be a screening of Walker Percy: A Documentary Film by Win Riley, which offers an insightful glimpse into the profound life and work of the author.

At 2:30pm, the winner of the city-wide high school Walker Percy Writing Contest will present his/her essay, with recognition and awards presented to the top three contestants. For more information on the Walker Percy Writing Contest, please click here.

Following the awards presentation, a panel of top literary experts from Birmingham will lead a discussion on Percy's life, work, and legacy. The panel includes Dr. Kieran Quinlan from UAB, Dr. Geoff Wright from Samford, and Weld publisher Mark Kelly.

A selection of books by or about Walker Percy will also be available for sale.

A reception to meet the panelists and wrap up the celebration will follow at Cahaba Brewing Co.

All events are free and open to the public.

Please direct all inquiries to G. Chance Turner 205.447.3065