CARRBORO, N.C. -- The 18th Annual West End Poetry Festival returns, Oct. 19-21, 2023. All events are free and open to the public.
Thursday, October 19 - Luna (307 E. Main St. Carrboro, NC 27510)
5:45-8:00 p.m. Carrboro Poets Council Feature and Open Mic
- Fred Joiner, Former Carrboro Poet Laureate
- Gideon Young
- Chad Knuth
- Susan Spalt
- Liza Wolff-Francis, Carrboro Poet Laureate, as MC
Friday, October 20 - The ArtsCenter (400 Roberson St. Carrboro, NC 27510)
4:30-5:30 p.m. Youth Workshop with Jaki Shelton Green
7:00-8:00 p.m. Carrboro Poet Laureate, Liza Wolff-Francis in poetic conversation with Ina Cariño and Len Lawson
8:00-8:30 p.m. Open Mic
8:30-9:30 p.m. Wine Reception (cash bar)
Saturday, October 21 - Carrboro Century Center (100 N. Greensboro St. Carrboro, NC 27510)
10:00-11:15 a.m. Coffee, biscuits and Poetry in the Round
11:15 a.m. - 12:45 p.m. Break for lunch. Go explore the many delicious restaurants around downtown Carrboro!
12:45 p.m. Welcome from Carrboro Mayor Damon Seils
1:00 p.m. Poets Laureate Reading
- Carrboro Poet Laureate Liza Wolff-Francis
- Chapel Hill Poet Laureate Cortland Gilliam
- Piedmont Poet Laureate Dasan Ahanu
- Durham Poet Laureate DJ Rogers
- Charlotte Poet Laureate Jay Ward
- North Carolina Poet Laureate: Jaki Shelton Green
2:45-3:45 p.m. Poetry Writing Generative Workshop with Ross White
3:45-4:30 p.m. Coffee and snacks provided
4:30-5:30 p.m. New Book Poets Reading
- Corrie Lynn White
- Ross White
- Len Lawson
- Ina Cariño
- Jan Harington
5:45 p.m. Light dinner fare provided by Carrburritos
6:45 p.m. Community Poem Reading: We need your words to help create the 2023 Carrboro Community Poem! This year's theme is COMMUNITY. Submit your words for the 2023 Carrboro Community Poem here.
Saturday, October 21 - Steel String Brewery (106A S. Greensboro St. Carrboro, NC 27510)
7:00-9:00 p.m. Poetry Slam hosted by Dasan Ahanu
For more information on the events and poets please visit the West End Poetry website: westendpoetryfestival.org
The West End Poetry Festival is sponsored by the Town of Carrboro and is planned by the Carrboro Poets Council (currently comprised of Carrboro Poet Laureate Liza Wolff-Francis, Gideon Young, Susan Spalt, Jay Bryan, Fred Joiner, Abigail Browning, Chad Knuth and Paul Jones) with the assistance of the staff of Carrboro’s Recreation, Parks, & Cultural Resources Department and the support of the Carrboro Arts Committee and the Carrboro Tourism Development Authority.
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