24-Hour “Moby Dick Marathon” Free Overnight Lit Party (SF)

SFMNPA

The San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, in partnership with the San Francisco Maritime National Park Association and Litquake, is hosting a 24-hour Moby Dick reading marathon in the Maritime Museum on September 12th and 13th.

Brace yourself as the MD24 resurfaces in 2026! The Moby Dick 24-Hour Marathon, hosted by the San Francisco Maritime National Park Association and San Francisco Maritime National Historical Park, is a secret San Francisco tradition, steeped in both maritime history and theatrical innovation! Whether you’re a Melville scholar or you’ve never even cracked the cover, the MD24 makes the colossal novel Moby Dick feel lively, accessible, and dare we say– FUN!

Literary thrillseekers gather annually to celebrate this complicated, provocative, much-beloved-and-sometimes-dreaded epic of nautical life! Utilizing the voices of volunteer readers, ranging from special guest stars to people just like you (yes, YOU)! This year’s MD24 ’26 blends San Francisco’s creative spark into a whirlwind of performance, art, visual wonder, and spectacle. It’s a vibrant celebration of Melville’s great American masterpiece that promises to be unforgettable!

Beginning at twelve noon on Saturday, September 12th to noon on Sunday September 13th, 2026, the nonstop cover-to-cover marathon turns it all into the hottest afterparty in town!

Come for a chapter, or spend the night in the spectacularly restored Art Deco-style landmark that is the Maritime Museum Building! Join us for this spirited, enthusiastic examination of what Melville continues to mean to us– and how we resonate daily with some of the most complex characters in American literature.

Learn more & sign up to read a chapter here: https://maritime.org/md2026/

Disclaimer: Please double check event information with the event organizer as events can be canceled, details can change after they are added to our calendar, and errors do occur.