Photo by Carla Bristol
St. Petersburg is known as the City of the Arts and this event is proof. The third annual City of Writers Poetry Festival is underway in St. Petersburg. It is presented by Gloria Muñoz, the city’s poet laureate, with community partners.
Held during National Poetry Month, accordingly the festival has a lineup of events throughout April. Not only do they include conversations with nationally recognized poets, but also writing workshops and poetry readings, happening via partnerships with community organizations.
Eckerd College, St. Pete Youth Farm, The Dalí Museum, Black Crow Coffee, Tombolo Books, Florida Humanities, and the St. Pete Pier are among the festival’s partners.
City of Writers Poetry Festival in St. Petersburg: A Variety of Events
“We are excited about the return of the City of Writers Poetry Festival this year,” Muñoz said in a news release. “This is another opportunity for visitors and residents of St. Pete to experience the rich culture and talents of local businesses and performers. We encourage everyone to get involved and be inspired.”
The events run the gamut, from a haiku workshop at the Jack Kerouac House (5169 10th Ave. N.) on April 13 to a beach cleanup with Muñoz and Take Mar at Fort De Soto Park (3500 Pinellas Bayway S.) on April 26. The St. Pete Youth Farm will offer poetry workshops for Wellness Monday on April 21 and 28.
The Gabber Newspaper caught up with Muñoz via phone to highlight a few events. For a full list of events, visit stpete.org.
Arts All Around!
The Gabber Newspaper covers live theater and art across South Pinellas. And, when we find something worth the drive, we cover art in the Tampa Bay and Sarasota areas.
Experimental Poetry & Collaboration
Featuring writers Camilo Loaiza Bonilla, Keifer Calkins, Eleanor Eichenbaum, Tyler Gillespie, and Tenea D. Johnson, the event takes poetry into experimental spaces, Muñoz said, with a focus on sound, which Johnson “does incredibly well.”
11 a.m. Sunday, April 13 at Tombolo Books (2153 First Ave. S.)
dormilona — An Evening with Connie Mae Oliver
Muñoz was an early reader of Oliver’s book, dormilona, a bilingual, multi-generational, matriarchal story and found that it intersected with her own life, she said.
7 p.m. Wednesday, April 16 at Tombolo Books (2153 1st Ave. S.)
Looking for more things to do in St. Petersburg, Gulfport, and the beaches? Check out The Gabber Newspaper’s full calendar of events.
Eckerd College National Poetry Month Reading Series presents: José Olivarez
The Mexican-American poet gives inspirational and powerful performances, Muñoz said. During a time when groups of people are being disparaged, she said she’s happy to have an outspoken, vibrant poet at the festival.
7 p.m. Thursday, April 17 at Eckerd College, James Center Patio (4200 54th Ave. S.)
Dalí Poetry Series and Eckerd College present: Natalie Diaz
Indigenous and Latinx poet Diaz won the Pulitzer Prize for Poetry for her book Postcolonial Love Poem in 2021. The book’s description says its an “anthem of desire against erasure.”
6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 24 at The Dalí Museum, Will Raymund Theater (1 Dalí Blvd.)
The Climate of Us: Poems Between Land and Sea
Many participating poets impacted by the hurricanes and will relay those experiences in their work. Additionally, because it’s presented by Florida Humanities, you can also watch videos of them reading the poetry online at floridahumanities.online.
7 p.m. Wednesday, April 30 at Tombolo Books (2153 1st Ave. S.)
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