National Poetry Month
Poetry Happy Hour at Communal Cafe
Thursday, April 18, 2024
5:00-6:00pm
Communal Cafe
233 Broad St.
Nevada City, CA
Join Nevada County Poet Laureate Kirsten Casey for a celebration of all things poetry.
Prompts and prizes, all are invited!
The Watching Sky
by Judy Crowe. Book Release Party!
Friday, April 19, 2024
5:00 - 7:00pm
Artists Studio in the Foothills (ASiF)
940 Idaho Maryland Rd.
Grass Valley, CA
(map)
“Stirring landscapes and a searching heart inform The Watching Sky, the vibrant and compassionate full-length debut from award-winning poet Judy Brackett Crowe. Both a probing exploration of the natural world by various, mostly anonymous, speakers, focusing on intimate encounters and interactions, and a questioning and celebration of identity, Crowe's astute sense of place grounds her work in fields and mountains, soft light and small roads, stories and sounds. With wonder and hope, The Watching Sky proves that there is always another chance, and plenty of stars to follow.”
Join poet and author Judy Crowe as she reads from her new book from Cornerstone Press. Artist talk, book signing, and light refreshments to follow.
Envisioning Poetry: Poets and Visual Artists Collaborate
Friday, April 19, 2024
5:00 - 7:00 pm
Reading begins at 6:00pm
Nevada City Winery Gallery
321 Spring St.
Nevada City, CA
This Pop-up brings together poets and visual artists in collaboration, with no boundaries or rules. Visual artists create works in response to a poem by the poet they are collaborating with, or the poet creates a poem from their response to a work by the artist. Often it goes both ways, an exchange between poet and artist, a shared - reflection and inspiration.
Come savor a glass of wine, while you view, read, and hear the boundless results – at the Opening and Reading.
Poets: Rachael Courtier, Meredith Manning, and Graham McGrew
Artists: Meredith Manning, Maile Claire and Mark Wilcox
On display April 11 - May 12
Poetry at Nevada City Farmers Market
Saturday, April 20, 2024
10:30-11:15am
Robinson Plaza on Union Street
A celebration of Poetry on the theme of Earth Day!
Tracks Along the Left Coast
Saturday, April 20, 2024
Doors at 6:00 pm | Reading at 6:30 pm
Tickets: $20 presale | $25 at the door
North Columbia Schoolhouse Cultural Center
17894 Tyler Foote Rd
Nevada City, CA
This year, we sought to extend our focus from those who have written from, or passed through, the Ridge, to other watersheds and their associated poets. Our theme, ‘Tracks Along the Left Coast’—is a nod to Schelling’s "Post Coyote at Orono", a nod to Jaime de Angulo himself, and a nod to all those who continue making tracks. What have song, story, and language been on this westerly chunk of the continent? What funny forms might they take today, and what might they look and sound like in days to come? How does land make culture?
Our current line-up is: Andrew Schelling, Jacquie Bellon, Jim Dodge, Jerry Martien, and Mariee Siou.
Chocolate and Poetry: An Hour of Delight
Sunday, April 21, 2024
5:00 - 6:00 (ish) PM
Choquiero Cacao Café
419 Broad Street, A
Nevada City, CA
As part of our local Earth Day celebration, poets Alicia Vandevorst, Maxima Kahn, Iven Lourie, and Gene Berson will recite for you as you sip or savor cacao.
You may want to arrive a little early if you plan to order a drink.
The Poetry Crashers 3rd Annual Earth Fest Celebration
Sunday, April 21, 2024
11:00am-5:00pm
Downtown Nevada City
Upstate California Creative Corps grantees The Poetry Crashers will bring their magic to the Nevada City Earth Day Festival. Their interactive booth at the Earth Day festival celebrates their project Postcards from Earth. This alien invitation station encourages the humans of Nevada County to write postcards on the theme of our shared interest, Planet Earth! The Poetry Crashers will intersperse their galactic musings throughout the day with postcard readings and a selection of poems.
Wild Writing Wednesday
Wednesday, April 24, 2024
4:00pm - 5:30pm
Nevada City Picture Framing and Restoration
571 Searls Ave.
Nevada City, CA
We’ll meet at Nevada City Picture Framing and Restoration. Proprietor Melissa Goldman is opening up her beautiful space for Wild Writers to enjoy “prompts for poetry and prose.” Led by Sands Hall. This is an inclusive and dynamic group of writers; no experience necessary. Wine and Sparkling water available. Donations welcome but not required.
Poetry in Parks: Students and Poets Read
Saturday, April 27, 2024
1:00pm
Park Entry Fee: $5 (Children under five free.)
The Empire Mine State Park
10791 East Empire St.
Grass Valley, CA
In cooperation with the California State Parks Department, and California Poets in the Schools, Kirsten Casey, Poet Laureate of Nevada County, will be hosting an outdoor poetry reading with local adult and high school poets. Special guest, California Poet Laureate Lee Herrick, will attend to speak, and listen to poems about the Empire Mine and his “My California” prompt, which was part of the curriculum in Kirsten Casey’s two high school residencies.
Musical guest, to play before the reading, is Davia. Picnics are allowed, so bring a blanket and some snacks. Should there be inclement weather the reading will take place in the Clubhouse.
Wildflower Poetry Walk and Workshop
Saturday, May 4, 2024
10:00am - 12:00pm
Wildflower Ridge Preserve
13167 Ridge Rd.
Grass Valley, CA
ADULT registration is SOLD OUT. Youth registration still open.
Join poets Kirsten Casey and Ingrid Keriotis, in cooperation with the Bear Yuba Land Trust, for a family wildflower walk and poetry writing workshop, located at the Wildflower Ridge Preserve (park at Twin Cities Church.) Tickets available March 20th, one adult group of 25 participants, and one youth group of 25 participants. (Children must be able to read and write.)
After March 20: https://www.bylt.org/events/
PAST POP-UPS
Thank you’s to all our Fringe Festival creatives!
Truckee Cultural District Creatives Meetup and Open Mic
Thursday, March 21, 2024
5:00-7:00pm
Alpine Electric
10072 Donner Pass Rd.
Truckee, CA
Join Truckee Cultural District and Nevada County Arts Council for the March Creatives Meetup and Open Mic Poetry Popup!
Local spoken word artists and poets are invited to join the evening and bring their best, the Sierra Poetry Festival extends an invitation to perform at the Open Mic Poetry Slam Lottery on April 11th, with a chance to read their work at the Main Stage Event on April 13, 2024.
Celebrating UNESCO World Poetry Day
Thursday, March 21, 2024
12:00-5:00pm
Headquarters
425 Broad St.
Nevada City, CA
Every year World Poetry Day is celebrated around the world in readings and in ceremonies honoring poets and inspiring writers, whether aspiring or well established. Come celebrate World Poetry Day as we kick off Arts, Culture & Creativity Month starting in April. Enjoy a cup of coffee or tea while writing or being inspired by prompts. Coffee generously donated by Caroline's Coffee in Grass Valley. Join Nevada County poets throughout the day, as we explore this year’s theme, Standing on the Shoulders of Giants. The theme nods to iconic writers of the past whose trailblazing works enlarged poetry's footprint across cultures. Poems will be posted on a bulletin board and will be displayed at the Sierra Poetry Festival Main Stage event on April 13, 2024.
UNESCO is the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization. It contributes to peace and security by promoting international cooperation in education, sciences, culture, communication and information. UNESCO promotes knowledge sharing and the free flow of ideas to accelerate mutual understanding and a more perfect knowledge of each other's lives.
Poetry Happy Hour || Poetry Sad Hour
Thursday, March 21, 2024
5:00pm
Communal Cafe
233 Broad St.
Nevada City, CA
Join Nevada County Poet Laureate Kirsten Casey for a celebration of elegy. Low pressure poetry prompts, free and open to all. Anyone can write a poem and everyone is invited!
Writing as Activism
Thursday, March 28, 2024
4:00pm Workshop - 7:00pm Reading
Madelyn Helling Library
980 Helling Way
Nevada City, CA
(map)
Join Nevada County Poet Laureate Emeritus Molly Fisk to explore the ways writing can express what you’re passionate about in the world, either through support, or in protest! This workshop will be followed by a break and then an evening poetry reading.
ASiF's 2nd Annual Ekphrastic Fantastic:
Art-Inspired Poetry
Friday, March 29, 2024
5:00-7:00pm
Artists Studio in the Foothills (ASiF)
940 Idaho Maryland Rd.
Grass Valley, CA
(map)
A celebration of live poetry in conversation with art created by ASiF’s Artists in Residence. ASiF's annual Ekphrastic Fantastic event is a collaboration with the Nevada County Arts Council. Its mission is to bring together — to celebrate and cross pollinate — two distinct and thriving communities of local visual artists and poets, followed by book sales and signing. Free and open to the public.
Donations gratefully accepted to support the ASiF Art Center.
A Celebration of Gratitude-Poetry Reading with June Saraceno and Karen Terrey
Wednesday, April 3, 2024
5:00-7:00pm
Truckee Library
10031 Levone Ave
Truckee, CA
In collaboration with Nevada County Reads, this event will feature a poetry reading by June Saraceno and Karen Terrey. The poets will share poems on the theme of Gratitude, from their own collections of poetry and from Nevada County Reads author Ross Gay. They will also offer a short writing workshop with prompts for all levels of experience. There will be time for socializing with the poets, and a Q&A during the reading. The library will provide light refreshments for all who attend. The event is completely free and everyone from our community is encouraged to attend!
Free copies of this year's book are available at all Nevada County Library Branches.
Five Nevada County Women Poets, 8th Edition
Wednesday, April 3, 2024
6:00-7:30pm
The Miners Foundry and Cultural Center
325 Spring St.
Nevada City, CA
In this, their eighth-annual Sierra Poetry Festival pop-up event, five Nevada County Women read their poems.
Kirsten Casey
Judy Crowe
Beth Ford
Ingrid Keriotis
Judie Rae
Poetry Reading with Patricia Caspers and Rooja Mohassessy
Friday, April 5, 2024
7:00pm
Madelyn Helling Library
980 Helling Way
Nevada City, CA
(map)
Join two local poets for a night of poetry and intrigue.
Open mic to follow.
Dancing on the Edge of Faith and Shadow
Saturday, April 6, 2024
Workshop 1-3pm
Performance 5-7pm
Aerialution - Aerial and Movement Studio
819 Whispering Pines Ln., Suite D
Grass Valley, CA
This pop up is “a two-parter,” says poet and presenter Michaelyn Logue. Join Psi Process, an avant-garde sound project from Santa Cruz, for a generative writing workshop following a theme of Faith and Shadow. Attendees will be guided through somatic exercises, followed by creative visioning. Working with prompts, participants will be invited to the mic to read their creation, as “the band” creates an ambient soundscape in response.
Dancing on the Edge of Faith and Shadow includes an improvised performance with Embodiment Collective. Invited poets from the generative part of the session, along with others including Bishop Randall, Chris Olander, Sands Hall, Michaelyn Logue and Kirk Lumpkin, will read their work as Psi Process creates a soundscape and our aerial dancers explore their own interpretation of Faith and Shadow.
Open Mic Poetry Slam Lottery! MC’d by Michael Clarity
Thursday, April 11, 2024
5:00-7:00pm
The Iron Door at The Holbrooke
212 W Main St.
Grass Valley, CA
Hosted by Michael Clarity, readings begin at 5:45pm sharp. Arrive in time to put your name in the lottery tumbler. Starting at 5:45, we’ll draw the names of 20 poets one by one. Your original poem should not exceed three minutes; please time yourself beforehand.
Compete for the opportunity to read your poem on the Main Stage as part of Sierra Poetry Festival. Three finalists will be selected by our judges, Nevada County Poet Laureate Kirsten Casey, Poet Laureate emeritus Chris Olander, and local poet winner of the 22nd Annual Elixir Poetry Award Rooja Mohassessy. Looking forward to this flash round of poetic voices!
Sierra Poetry Festival - Media Lounge
Friday, April 12, 2024
5:00-7:00pm
Nevada City Winery
321 Spring St.
Nevada City, CA
Join us in welcoming our visiting poets and presenters, and celebrating our founding festival benefactors.
Each one will be interviewed, wine will flow thanks to our no-host bar, and the public is welcome as our media lounge is broadcast live!
Join us in welcoming our visiting poets and presenters, and celebrating our founding festival benefactors.
Each one will be interviewed, wine will flow thanks to our no-host bar, and the public is welcome as our media lounge is broadcast live!