SPC FALL FESTIVAL AND WRITERS CONFERENCE 10/23-26 AT THE POETRY CENTER & CROCKER MUSEUM
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Please Join The Sacramento Poetry Center at its
FALL FESTIVAL & CONFERENCE, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23 - MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2026
Celebrating 40 Years of Sacramento Poetry Day
and Featuring
Peter Coyote, Lee Herrick, Molly Fisk, Brendan Constantine, Traci Gourdine, Bethanie Humphreys, Mario Ellis Hill, Vincent Kobelt, Mark Oi, & Patrick Reilly
Full details at: https://www.sacpoetrycenter.org/poetnews
All events free to attend!
We’re extremely grateful to all the poets and musicians who have agreed to help us celebrate our art and history at our festival and conference on this significant anniversary weekend.
October 26 was proclaimed Sacramento Poetry Day in perpetuity by Mayor Anne Rudin in 1986 in celebration of the publishing work in which SPC was engaged, especially the historical first anthology of Sacramento Poets, Landing Signals.
Here is the schedule for the four days of celebration.
Please note that this schedule is somewhat fluid. Any changes or additions will be posted on our website’s home page at sacpoetrycenter.org. Stay tuned.
Day One
Friday, October 23, 7 p.m. Poetry, Music & Open Mic (@ SPC 1719 25th Street)
Conference Kick off @ SPC:
Featuring Vincent Kobelt & Mario Ellis Hill, with Mark Oi & Patrick Reilly
We’re beginning the festival with poetry and music as a way to energize ourselves and loosen up for the days ahead. Capably achieving that will be poets Vincent Kobelt and Mario Ellis Hill who will be joined by guitarist Mark Oi and bassist Patrick Reilly.
Day Two
Saturday, October 24: Open House, Workshop, Panel & Reading (@ SPC 1719 25th Street)
With Molly Fisk, Brendan Constantine, and Bethanie Humphreys
Please come and spend the day with these wonderful poets, who bring an enormous amount of knowledge about poetry and how it moves in culture to the table!
10 a.m.
Our second day begins with an open house at SPC, with snacks and tea. Stop by and visit before the workshop & stay all day!
11:30 a.m. Workshop
Erasure Workshop* with Bethanie Humphreys in which she will explore the various kinds of erasure poems including black out, white out, the Burning Haibun, and others, and employing contemporary examples to inspire your writing / removal of writing.
*RSVP for this workshop requested, please. Send to [email protected], subject “erasure” to ensure your seat.
2 p.m. Panel Discussion
Molly Fisk named the theme for the panel discussion: Now What? Writing in Turbulent Times.
What indeed? Panelists: Molly Fisk, Brendan Constantine, Bethanie Humphreys, and moderator.
4 p.m.
Poetry Reading featuring Molly Fisk, Brendan Constantine, and Bethanie Humphreys, with a book signing following.
Day Three
Sunday, October 25 (@ the Crocker Museum, 216 O Street):
Festival Day at the Crocker Museum Features legendary writer & actor Peter Coyote & California’s Poet Laureate Lee Herrick
We want to offer deep gratitude to Houghton Kinsman, the Assistant Director of Education at the Crocker for his generous, ongoing support of SPC, and his insightful partnership. The events will be held in the Crocker’s Setzer Foundation Auditorium.
The day includes the world premier of Peter Coyote’s new collection of poetry, Thumb to Thumb …and Yet, a visit with California’s Poet Laureate Lee Herrick, and an ekphrastic workshop with Traci Gourdine.
10-10:30 a.m.
Join us at the Crocker, check out the various exhibits, and check in with Traci Gourdine if you’re going to participate in her writing workshop.
11 a.m.
Ekphrastic Workshop* with Traci Gourdine. Traci will provide an overview of the workshop, and give a tour of some of the Crocker’s exhibits. You may choose an image that piques your interest and inspires you to write.
*RSVP for this workshop requested, please. Send to [email protected], subject “ekphrastic” to ensure your seat.
1 p.m. Discussion/presentation with Lee Herrick
2 p.m.- 5 p.m.
Peter Coyote and Lee Herrick and will join us for a conversation and open forum and Q&A, and a reading, including the debut reading of Peter’s new collection of poetry, Thumb to Thumb ... and Yet. Book signing follows. Peter’s new book will on hand to purchase.
Day Four: SPC Celebrates the 40th Anniversary of Poetry Day
Monday, October 26, 7:30 p.m.
Please join us for a conversation about Poetry Day, publishing, and the rich history of poetry in Sacramento with Julia Connor, Patrick Grizzell, Andru Defeye, and special guest speakers — and a whole lot of open mic time. And cake.
“I feel that Landing Signals will bring support and definition to the poets of Sacramento
who have clearly worked hard at the art of Poetry over years and are a growing voice.”
—Lawrence Ferlinghetti, 1986
FALL FESTIVAL & CONFERENCE, FRIDAY, OCTOBER 23 - MONDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2026
Celebrating 40 Years of Sacramento Poetry Day
and Featuring
Peter Coyote, Lee Herrick, Molly Fisk, Brendan Constantine, Traci Gourdine, Bethanie Humphreys, Mario Ellis Hill, Vincent Kobelt, Mark Oi, & Patrick Reilly
Full details at: https://www.sacpoetrycenter.org/poetnews
All events free to attend!
We’re extremely grateful to all the poets and musicians who have agreed to help us celebrate our art and history at our festival and conference on this significant anniversary weekend.
October 26 was proclaimed Sacramento Poetry Day in perpetuity by Mayor Anne Rudin in 1986 in celebration of the publishing work in which SPC was engaged, especially the historical first anthology of Sacramento Poets, Landing Signals.
Here is the schedule for the four days of celebration.
Please note that this schedule is somewhat fluid. Any changes or additions will be posted on our website’s home page at sacpoetrycenter.org. Stay tuned.
Day One
Friday, October 23, 7 p.m. Poetry, Music & Open Mic (@ SPC 1719 25th Street)
Conference Kick off @ SPC:
Featuring Vincent Kobelt & Mario Ellis Hill, with Mark Oi & Patrick Reilly
We’re beginning the festival with poetry and music as a way to energize ourselves and loosen up for the days ahead. Capably achieving that will be poets Vincent Kobelt and Mario Ellis Hill who will be joined by guitarist Mark Oi and bassist Patrick Reilly.
Day Two
Saturday, October 24: Open House, Workshop, Panel & Reading (@ SPC 1719 25th Street)
With Molly Fisk, Brendan Constantine, and Bethanie Humphreys
Please come and spend the day with these wonderful poets, who bring an enormous amount of knowledge about poetry and how it moves in culture to the table!
10 a.m.
Our second day begins with an open house at SPC, with snacks and tea. Stop by and visit before the workshop & stay all day!
11:30 a.m. Workshop
Erasure Workshop* with Bethanie Humphreys in which she will explore the various kinds of erasure poems including black out, white out, the Burning Haibun, and others, and employing contemporary examples to inspire your writing / removal of writing.
*RSVP for this workshop requested, please. Send to [email protected], subject “erasure” to ensure your seat.
2 p.m. Panel Discussion
Molly Fisk named the theme for the panel discussion: Now What? Writing in Turbulent Times.
What indeed? Panelists: Molly Fisk, Brendan Constantine, Bethanie Humphreys, and moderator.
4 p.m.
Poetry Reading featuring Molly Fisk, Brendan Constantine, and Bethanie Humphreys, with a book signing following.
Day Three
Sunday, October 25 (@ the Crocker Museum, 216 O Street):
Festival Day at the Crocker Museum Features legendary writer & actor Peter Coyote & California’s Poet Laureate Lee Herrick
We want to offer deep gratitude to Houghton Kinsman, the Assistant Director of Education at the Crocker for his generous, ongoing support of SPC, and his insightful partnership. The events will be held in the Crocker’s Setzer Foundation Auditorium.
The day includes the world premier of Peter Coyote’s new collection of poetry, Thumb to Thumb …and Yet, a visit with California’s Poet Laureate Lee Herrick, and an ekphrastic workshop with Traci Gourdine.
10-10:30 a.m.
Join us at the Crocker, check out the various exhibits, and check in with Traci Gourdine if you’re going to participate in her writing workshop.
11 a.m.
Ekphrastic Workshop* with Traci Gourdine. Traci will provide an overview of the workshop, and give a tour of some of the Crocker’s exhibits. You may choose an image that piques your interest and inspires you to write.
*RSVP for this workshop requested, please. Send to [email protected], subject “ekphrastic” to ensure your seat.
1 p.m. Discussion/presentation with Lee Herrick
2 p.m.- 5 p.m.
Peter Coyote and Lee Herrick and will join us for a conversation and open forum and Q&A, and a reading, including the debut reading of Peter’s new collection of poetry, Thumb to Thumb ... and Yet. Book signing follows. Peter’s new book will on hand to purchase.
Day Four: SPC Celebrates the 40th Anniversary of Poetry Day
Monday, October 26, 7:30 p.m.
Please join us for a conversation about Poetry Day, publishing, and the rich history of poetry in Sacramento with Julia Connor, Patrick Grizzell, Andru Defeye, and special guest speakers — and a whole lot of open mic time. And cake.
“I feel that Landing Signals will bring support and definition to the poets of Sacramento
who have clearly worked hard at the art of Poetry over years and are a growing voice.”
—Lawrence Ferlinghetti, 1986
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Where is it happening?
1719 25th Street, Sacramento, CA, United States, California 95816
Event Location & Nearby Stays:
Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.
Host or PublisherThe Sacramento Poetry Center
