St. Augustine PoetFest Kick-Off - Open Mic

The 2nd Annual St. Augustine PoetFest will kick off on Friday April 14 at Relámpago Coffee Lab (74 Spanish Street) at 7:00 p.m. with an open mic sponsored by the Flagler College English Department. Sign up sheet out at 6:30 p.m.

The next day’s activities (Saturday, April 15) will begin at 8:00 a.m. with a guided meditation at the Alumni House labyrinth, to get everyone in the “write mood”.

On campus Saturday, April 15th activities will include:

  • 9 am to 3 pm – Book Bazaar and author signing table.
  • Noon until 5 pm – Zine Zone events with a fanzine making workshop at 1:00 pm ($10 charge for materials. Limit 12 students).
  • 9 am to 3:15 pm – 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 performance and seminar at the Markland House, Gamache-Koger Theater, and outdoor courtyard at Ringhaver Student Center.
  • 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm – A Poetic Labor Spotlight at the Brown Innovation Center.

* 3:30 pm to 9 pm – Virginia Room On Campus Presentations:

  • 3:30 pm to 4 pm – Haiku Spotlight Presentation featuring winners of the 3rd Annual St. Johns Cultural Council Haiku Contest.
  • 4 pm to 5 pm – Out of State Spotlight: New York Poet George Wallace.
  • 5 pm to 6 pm – Jax by Jax: the First Ten Years with Co-DIrectors Erica Saffer and Darlyn Finch Kuhn.
  • 6 pm to 6:30 pm – Out of State Spotlight: Georgia Poet Jimmy Broccoli.
  • 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm – Two Rust Belt Voices: featuring US Beat Poet Laureate John Burroughs and Lucas County (Toledo) Poet Laureate Jonie McIntire.
  • 7:30 pm to 9:00 pm – 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, located at 115 Anastasia Blvd, St. Augustine, FL 32080. The shows will happen off campus on Friday (4/14), Saturday (4/15), and Sunday (4/16) night. $10 cover will go to help support the performers. A fanzine making workshop will be offered on campus on Saturday for a small $10 fee.

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).

SOCIAL MEDIA
Festival Website: https://ancientcitypoets.wordpress.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/StaPoetFest

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stapoetfest

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ancientcitypoets