More than 150,000 book lovers descended on the University Park Campus this past weekend for the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books, an annual event considered the largest public literary celebration in the country.

Held at USC since 2011, the two-day event celebrated its 20th year.

A centerpiece of the festival was the Keck Medicine of USC Health and Wellness Pavilion, which hosted a variety of health-related screenings for adults and children including those for skin cancer, sleep apnea, glucose, BMI, blood pressure and oral health.

The Health and Wellness Pavilion doubled in size over previous years, attracting thousands of visitors and featuring volunteers from across the Keck Medicine of USC enterprise, including physicians, nurses, medical students and hospital staff members.

“The Health and Wellness Pavilion showcases so much USC has to offer – we’re not just a university, we’re also a medical enterprise,” said Adam Rosen, assistant vice president, office of cultural relations and university events.

The free festival featured hundreds of lectures, readings, signings and performances by authors, poets, musicians and journalists. A host of vendors were spread across campus.

Noted authors this year included T.C. Boyle, Malcom Gladwell, Aimee Bender and Janet Fitch. Panels included Pulitzer Prize-winning L.A. Times food critic Jonathan Gold interviewing renowned chef Roy Choi and L.A. Times journalist Lorrain Ali interviewing musician Billy Idol. There were live music performances, poetry readings and an array of gourmet food trucks.

— Douglas Morino

Occupational therapy graduate student, Madeline Kelly, helps young boy make a stress-relieving ball out of a balloon and flour, which he plans to give to his mother.

Occupational therapy graduate student Madeline Kelly helps a young boy make a stress-relieving ball out of a balloon and flour.

Jerry Jue, a Festival of Books volunteer for 20 years, gets his vision checked by USC Eye Institute ophthalmic technician, Rachelle Goltra.

Jerry Jue, a Festival of Books volunteer for 20 years, with USC Eye Institute ophthalmic technician Rachelle Goltra.

Biliet Ngang, volunteer services, meets with a visitor as Eric Kezirian, MD, answers questions about sleep disorders in the foreground.

Biliet Ngang, volunteer services, meets with a visitor as Eric Kezirian, MD, answers questions about sleep disorders.

Emmoe Marin, a Keck Hospital of USC medical assistant, checks blood glucose levels of Los Angeles local Alejandro Minera.

Emmoe Marin, a Keck Hospital of USC medical assistant, checks blood glucose levels of Los Angeles local Alejandro Minera.