Humorist Dave Barry, comedy writer Alan Zweibel headline LI LitFest

This year’s Long Island Litfest promises to bring the funny.

Among the headliners of the March 26 festival: Dave Barry, a Pulitzer Prize-winning humorist, and Alan Zweibel, a former “Saturday Night Live” writer. The pair will deliver an excerpt from their parody of the Passover Haggadah, “For This We Left Egypt?” Zweibel has won multiple Emmy and Writers Guild of America awards for his work on such projects as the “Late Show With David Letterman” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” Zweibel also has a Tony Award and the Thurber Prize to his credit.

The event won’t be all for laughs, though.

In addition to author readings, there will also be a conversation between New York Times best-selling author Cathi Hanauer and internationally acclaimed writer Gail Sheehy, whose 1976 work, “Passages,” was named one of the 10 most influential books of our time by the Library of Congress.

“I’m confident people will be enlightened and enriched with each author’s reading or talk,” says Claudia Copquin, the festival producer. “I guarantee there will also be a lot of laughter throughout the day.”

WHAT’S IN THE WORKS

Copquin, a Melville-based writer, had the idea to create the Long Island Litfest several years ago, disappointed that there wasn’t one already.

“As a reader and author, I have traveled out of Long Island to attend book festivals, and I know I’m not the only one who wished we had our own,” Copquin says.

Copquin had a good read on what people wanted: The festival continues to grow in scope, billing bigger talent each year and a few hundred people to boot.

“This year in particular, we are expecting a larger audience because of the talent we’ve lined up,” Copquin says.

Kelly Carlin, the daughter of legendary comedian George Carlin, will read from her memoir, “A Carlin Home Companion: Growing Up With George,” with a Q&A to follow.

Long Islander Steven Gaines also will participate. Zweibel returns to the festival for the third straight year.

Copquin says the event is a great way to introduce nonreaders to successful and bestselling authors in one day and in one place.

The 2017 production will be the most interactive. Copquin has scheduled time for audience questions throughout the day in separate Q&A panels. Admission includes access to a choice of two introductory workshops on personal essay writing and storytelling. Both take place at noon, an hour before Litfest begins. Attendees can speak with authors during breaks. The second session ends at 4:30 p.m., with more book signings to follow.

As always, Turn of the Corkscrew Books & Wine of Rockville Centre will host a pop-up bookstore, with the works of the featured authors.