The second annual St. Augustine PoetFest will kick off at 7 p.m. April 14 at Relámpago Coffee Lab, 74 Spanish St. with an open mic sponsored by the Flagler College English Department. Sign-up sheet out at 6:30 p.m.
Activities on Saturday, April 15, will begin at 8 a.m. with a guided meditation at the Alumni House labyrinth, to get everyone in the “write mood.”
On-campus activities for April 15 will include:
- 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. — Book bazaar and author signing table.
- Noon to 5 p.m. — Zine Zone events with a fanzine-making workshop at 1 p.m. ($10 charge for materials. Limit 12 students).
- 9 a.m. to 3:15 p.m. — Six-hour open mic marathon featuring five Florida counties, author talks, workshops and panel discussions, a Florida poets showcase hour, a storyteller spotlight and a dramatic theater reading at the Markland House, Gamache-Koger Theater and outdoor courtyard at Ringhaver Student Center.
- 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. — Lunch-and-learn side hussle spotlight at the Brown Innovation Center.
The following presentations are in the Virginia Room on campus:
- 3:30 to 4 p.m. — Haiku spotlight presentation featuring winners of the third annual St. Johns Cultural Council Haiku Contest.
- 4 to 5 p.m. — Out-of-state spotlight: New York poet George Wallace.
- 5 to 6 p.m. — Jax by Jax: The First 10 Years with co-directors Erica Saffer and Darlyn Finch Kuhn.
- 6 to 6:30 p.m. — Out-of-state spotlight: Georgia poet Jimmy Broccoli.
- 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. — Two Rust Belt voices: featuring U.S. Beat Poet Laureate John Burroughs and Lucas County (Toledo) Poet Laureate Jonie McIntire.
- 7:30 to 9 p.m. — One hour keynote presentation featuring Michigan Beat Poet Laureate Joe Kidd with Sheila Burke, followed by meet-and-greet and book signing.
The weekend will also include three “PoetFest at Night" performances presented by Hellthy and Bandturo at Sarbez, 115 Anastasia Blvd., St. Augustine. The shows will happen off-campus on Friday, April 14; Saturday, April 15; and Sunday night, April 16.
The $10 cover charge will help support the performers.
All other events will be free of charge and open to all, thanks to the support of Flagler College, St. Johns Cultural Council and the Ancient City Poets. The St. Augustine PoetFest is a celebration of creative writing and reciting. It is St. Johns County’s official recognition of National Poetry Month, April.
For more information, go to ancientcitypoets.wordpress.com.
