On Saturday, April 15, 2017 GonzoFest Louisville will celebrate the legacy of Hunter S. Thompson, creator of Gonzo journalism, at the Main branch of Louisville Free Public Library. The festival will take place both on the exterior grounds of the downtown branch and inside the library.

With the move to the Main Branch of Louisville Free Public Library (LFPL), GonzoFest Louisville has also shifted its focus to highlight the literary side of the annual Hunter S. Thompson festival by expanding its panel discussions, spoken word, and poetry aspects. Additionally GonzoFest Louisville will feature an all-local musical lineup.

The festival will host three different panel discussion: The Literary Impact of Hunter S. Thompson, Current Political State of Affairs, Freedom of Speech/Media Literacy. All panels and spoken word performances will take place at various locations inside the LFPL.

Returning to an all-local lineup, GonzoFest Louisville will feature music by Americana-Roots-Rock band Nellie Pearl, soul singer Otis Junior, psychedelic soul group Brother Wolves, experimental rock band Satellite Twin, singer-songwriter Brooks Ritter, and jam band Sativa Gumbo. All bands will perform outside of the library on York St.

GonzoFest Louisville will also be screening The Rise and Fall of the Brown Buffalo, the national PBS documentary on Chicano civil rights activist/attorney/author Oscar Zeta Acosta. Acosta is best known for his relationship with Hunter S. Thompson based on his travels with Acosta in the late 60s. The film is directed by veteran, award-winning filmmaker Phillip Rodriguez (Ruben Salazar: Man in the Middle). Louisville Native, Gaba Gavi plays the role of Rolling Stone writer, David Felton in the film. Both Rodriguez and Gavi will participate in a Question & Answer session after the film. 
From an early age Hunter developed a love of literature and writing, which was inspired by his time spent at the LFPL. Thompson's mother, Virginia Thompson, retired from being a librarian at the Main Library. The Main Library is the perfect place to celebrate the legacy of Hunter S. Thompson,Gonzo journalism, and the lasting mark Thompson made. The LFPL is the largest library system in Kentucky, comprised of 18 branch locations serving more than 3 million visitors per year.