Flagler College Second Annual PoetFest
In and around the Ringhavener Student Center
50 Sevilla Street
St. Augustine, FL 32084
For the second year in a row, Flagler College presents their three-day poetry festival to celebrate the literary heritage and connect the creative community of St. Augustine. Events range from poetry readings and open mic nights to guided craft classes and meditation. The majority of PoetFest events occur on Saturday, at Flagler College. Most of the sessions below are free and open to the public (unless noted).
Those interested in attending the April 15 festival may choose any number of events or any one event:
PoetFest Events at the Ringhaver Student Center - April 15
50 Sevilla Street
8 a.m. - 8:50 a.m. | Labyrinth Walk — Get in the 'Write' Mood | Behind the Alumni House | A workshop on meditation and open-mindedness in writing led by Annie Kiyonaga, yoga instructor and Ancient City Poet. |
9 a.m - 2:30 p.m. | Registration, Book Bazaar, PoetFest Contact Center | "Jay's Place", 1st Floor | Gather information about PoetFest. Author recordings and publications will be for sale. Copies of FLARE (Flagler Literary and Art Review) and Élan (Douglas Anderson Arts High School's Literary Magazine) will also be displayed. |
10 a.m. - 2 p.m. | On the Road: St. Johns County Book Mobile | Parked on Sevilla Street | Festival-goers and members of the public may withdraw new books or return old favorites at the St. Johns County Library Book Mobile. |
12 p.m. - 5 p.m. | Duval Comic and Zine Fest's Zine Zone | "Bailey Lounge", 1st Floor | Hosted by the Duval Comic and Zine Fest, several tables will be exhibiting and selling 'zines' (mini magazines). |
12:30 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. | Published Poets and Their Day Jobs | "Brown Innovation Center", 1st Floor | Ever wondered what it was like to be a published poet? Well, it's not as strange as you might think. A panel of work-a-day poets discuss their experiences. |
1 p.m. - 2 p.m. | Make a Zine Workshop | "Bailey Lounge", 1st Floor | Make your own mini-magazine with Duval County Comic and Zine Fest. $10 Cover, 12 Student limit (first come, first serve) |
PoetFest Events at Markland House - April 15
102 King Street
10 a.m. | Student Showcase | Flagler College English Department hosts several of their talented Flagler student poets. |
11 a.m. | Faculty Focus | Teachers and professors from Flagler and beyond share their poetry. |
12 p.m. | Alumni Showcase | Organized by Flagler College's Office of Alumni Engagement, graduates of Flagler College return to their alma mater to read their recent works. |
1 p.m. | Exploring Ecopoetics: Finding Your Place in Nature | Flagler College professor Ben Atkinson leads an "Intro to Poetry in Nature" workshop. |
2 p.m. | Everything is a Song: Transcending Time and Place | Half reading, half workshop that promises to instantly 'alter your mind'. |
PoetFest Events at the Gamache-Kroger Theater - April 15
50 Sevilla Street — 1st floor
9 a.m. | Haiku and Senryu: Fraternal Twins of Japanese Poetry | St. Augustine Haiku Society's Michael Henry Lee hosts an interactive workshop on historic Japanese forms. |
10 a.m. | Storytelling Spotlight: Tale Tellers of St. Augustine | As the storytelling movement sweeps the nation, the Tale Tellers of St. Augustine are here to share its wonders. |
11 a.m. | Women and Writing: Spotlight on Women Who Inspire | A group of panelists discuss the influence of women writers. |
12 p.m. | We're Having a Real Bad Time: Tragic Poetry for Tough Times | A panel of poets discuss the power of poetry in times of crisis. |
1 p.m. | Playwriting Spotlight: The Written Words of a Play | After a performance of "Gated Communities", Amy Goldin facilitates a discussion of the unique art form that is playwriting. |
2 p.m. | Florida Poet Showcase | Several local Florida poets showcase their works. Larry Jaffe, Michael Grover, Lynn Skapyak Harlin, Wayne Mason. |
PoetFest Events at the Virginia Room Stage - April 15
50 Sevilla Street — 2nd floor
3:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. | SJCC Haiku Contest Awards Presentation | Announcement of: 3rd Annual St. Johns County Cultural Council Haiku Contest Winners. |
4 p.m. - 5 p.m. | Out of State Poet Spotlight: New York | New York Poet George Wallace shares his works. |
5 p.m. - 6 p.m. | JaxByJax Celebration: First Ten Years | A gathering of Duval County poets celebrate ten years of their prominent literary festival. |
6 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. | Out of State Poet Spotlight: Virginia | Cynthia Atkins of Virginia shares her works. |
6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. | Rust Belt Poets: Two Voices | John Burroughs (US Beat Poet Laureate) and Jonie McIntire (Lucas County OH Poet Laureate) present the words of their region. |
7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. | Keynote Performance | Joe Kidd (Michigan Beat Poet Laureate) and poet Sheila Burke mix music and spoken word in a can't-miss performance. |
PoetFest Events at the "Sound Garden"
50 Sevilla Street, Back Courtyard
All throughout the day, the "Sound Garden" between Ringhaver Student Center and Markland House will host an all-day Open Mic with different hosts each hour.
9 a.m. - 9:10 a.m. | Welcome to PoetFest 2023 | Ancient City Poet and PoetFest Chair Chris Bodor |
9:10 a.m. - 9:50 a.m. | Host: Patricia Rahn Konover | Open Mic |
10 a.m. | Host: Aaron Woodson | Open Mic |
11 a.m. | Hosts: Becky Magnolia and Merlyn Pourchot | Open Mic |
12 p.m. | Host: Tale Tellers of St. Augustine | Open Mic |
1 p.m. | Hosts: Wendy Thornton and Ed Cowles | Open Mic |
2 p.m. - 2:10 p.m. | Spotlight Reading: St. Augustine Poet Laureate | Norma Sherry |
2:10 p.m. - 3 p.m. | Host: David Axelrod, Volusia County Poet Laureate | Open Mic |
Flagler College Second Annual PoetFest
In and around the Ringhavener Student Center
50 Sevilla Street
St. Augustine, FL 32084