This year for National Poetry Month (April) Ancient City Poets have partnered with Flagler College and the St. Johns Cultural Council to present a day-long celebration of creative writing and reciting on Saturday, April 15th.

The festival kicks off with an open mic on Friday, April 14th from 7-9 PM hosted by the English Department of Flagler College at Relampago Coffee Lab, located at 74 Spanish Street. Sign up sheet is out at 6:30 PM.

Saturday festival activities start at 8 AM with a guided labyrinth meditation to wake up our creative spirits, followed by events running from 9 AM - 9 PM. Events throughout the day include a storytellers panel, an open mic marathon, and book sale table, and a dramatic theater reading. The keynote presentation featuring Michigan Beat Poet Laureate Joe Kidd with Sheila Burke will be held at 7:30 PM in the Virginia Room on the 2nd floor of the Student Center.

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.

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).