Visitors gather in Ashland under mysterious circumstances — the Ashland Mystery Festival

Author and Ashland Mystery Festival founder Elle Alexander (center) poses with cozy mystery fans at the Festival Kickoff Reception at Ashland Springs Hotel Friday evening. Ashland.news photo by Bob Palermini
October 23, 2024

Sold-out second annual weekend of mystery-related fun drew up to 1,000 visitors

By Bob and Tracy Palermini, Ashland.news

Ashland became the center of the Cozy Mystery genre last weekend when it hosted the second annual Ashland Mystery Festival with 12 authors, 400 participants, up to 1,000 total visitors, and an abundance of mystery-related fun, according to Travel Ashland Director Katharine Cato. 

Participants came from 26 states, Canada, and the United Kingdom. There were women and men, young and old, families and groups of friends. 

Ashland residents Aurora Sofitel, 10, (center) and her mother Victoria, a baker, have been reading the Bakeshop Mysteries together after discovering they have several things in common with characters in the story. Ashland.news photo by Bob Palermini

Author Ellie Alexander, creator of the Bakeshop Mysteries series, which is set in Ashland, had the initial inspiration for a mystery festival and approached Travel Ashland and the Ashland Chamber of Commerce to produce the event. In its second year, the festival expanded to include 13 cozy mystery authors, 52 events, and 40 participating businesses. 

Friends Kristen Wilder, Atlanta, and Sarah Beth Wright, Ashland, enjoyed a cocktail at the Festival Kickoff Reception at Ashland Springs Hotel Friday evening. Ashland.news photo by Bob Palermini

The festival was designed to highlight Ashland’s literary culture. There were opportunities to engage with authors, learn about crafting the perfect mystery, and get insider tips on literary publication and promotion. Participants could also attend cooking demonstrations, a mystery craft hour, and embark on a scavenger hunt around downtown.

Planning is already underway for next year’s mystery fest, which will be held Oct. 16-19, 2025.

Bob & Tracy Palermini are residents of Ashland, where he is staff photographer for Ashland.news, as well a board member. Email Bob at [email protected].

Author Tamara Berry (right) participated in the Murder Mystery Hour where audience members were invited to shout out ideas to be turned into a short murder mystery that would be written by Berry. Ashland.news photo by Bob Palermini
Authors (from left) Gigi Pandian, Kyra Davis, Lee Hollis, and Tamara Berry were at the Historic Ashland Armory Saturday for the Murder Mystery Hour panel. Ashland.news photo by Bob Palermini
Cosmic Muffin School of Cookery welcomed author Ellen Byron, who led a Mystery Cooking Class. Ashland.news photo by Bob Palermini
Author Lee Hollis (right) poses for a selfie with a cozy mystery fan during an autograph session at the Brickroom. Ashland.news photo by Bob Palermini
A tangled chain mystery challenged author Ellen Byron during an autograph session at the Brickroom. Ashland.news photo by Bob Palermini
Ashland historian Peter Finkle led a number of Haunted Ashland Walking Tour durings the Ashland Mystery Festival. Ashland.news photo by Bob Palermini
Festival participants arrived in period dress for the 1920s Agatha Christie Dinner held at Ashland Springs Hotel Friday evening. Ashland.news photo by Bob Palermini
Authors from the Murder Mystery Hour Panel read the story developed using ideas contributed by audience members earlier in the day. Ashland.news photo by Bob Palermini
Friends of the Ashland Public Library held a $1 used mystery book sale in the library Saturday. Ashland.news photo by Bob Palermini
The Ashland Public Library hosted the Hollywood and Murder Panel of authors (right to left), Kyra Davis, Lee Hollis, and Ellen Byron, who talked about their experiences writing for television and film. Ashland.news photo by Bob Palermini
The Gresham Room of the Ashland Public Library was filled to capacity for the Hollywood and Murder Panel Saturday morning. Ashland.news photo by Bob Palermini
Author Ellie Alexander gave a cooking demonstration at Cosmic Muffin School of Cookery. Alexander used one of her grandmother’s recipes that was featured in one of her cozy mysteries. Ashland.news photo by Bob Palermini
The Peerless Hotel hosted the Paranormal Puzzles author panel of Esme Addison, Angela M. Sanders, Gigi Pandian, and Tara Lush. Ashland.news photo by Bob Palermini
Bloomsbury Books hosted authors Ellen Byron (left) and Lee Hollis for a book-signing session Saturday afternoon. Ashland.news photo by Bob Palermini
At the Ashland Mystery Festival, murder weapons appeared in the most unusual places, including at the Test Kitchen Tastings, hosted by Paddington Station. Ashland.news photo by Bob Palermini
Mystery Fest participants used their sleuthing skills to track down 13 posters scattered across downtown and crack the code to reveal which author each poster belonged to. Paddington Station hosted the reveal room where participants checked their answers and entered a drawing for prizes. Ashland.news photo by Bob Palermini
After a long day of mystery, some festival participants gathered at Growler Guys for an opportunity to meet the Tech Guy (left), author Ellie Alexander’s husband and a character in her books. Ashland.news photo by Bob Palermini
Picture of Bert Etling

Bert Etling

Bert Etling is the executive editor of Ashland.news. Email him at [email protected].

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