The sixth annual San José Poetry Festival will celebrate our community’s diverse ethnic and cultural heritage with a wide range of topics and literary styles reflected in performances, workshops, and a small press fair. This year, the festival will move online via Zoom to keep our community safe while keeping us all connected. Featured poets for 2020 will include Juan Felipe Herrera, Sabrina Benaim, Yesika Salgado, Arlene Biala, and Janice Lobo Sapigao, along with many other local and visiting artists.

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Schedule of Events Included in the Pass

Day 1 - Tuesday, September 8: Well-RED featuring Michelle Lin, Ellery Akers, Donnelle McGee ($15 for non-members/$10 for PCSJ members & students)

Day 2 - Wednesday, September 9: An Evening with Sabrina Benaim ($15 for non-members/$10 for PCSJ members & students)

Day 3 - Thursday, September 10: Open Mic & Friends (Free; donations appreciated)

Day 4 - Friday, September 11: An Evening with Juan Felipe Herrera and Friends ($15 for non-members/$10 for PCSJ members & students)

Day 5 - Saturday, September 12: Veterans of life Write ($10 for non-members/$5 for PCSJ members & students)

Day 6 - Sunday, September 13: Small Press Fair Readings & Ecopoetry Panel (Free; donations appreciated)

Day 6 - Sunday, September 13: San José Poetry Slam featuring Yesika Salgado (Free; donations appreciated)

Want to go all-in for poetry? Get a festival pass to enjoy all performances with one convenient ticket!

Please note: festival passes do not include workshops, which require separate tickets in order to participate. To register for workshops or individual events, check out the full festival lineup.

San José Poetry Festival 2020 is presented by Poetry Center San José and is sponsored in part by: Festival and Cultural Affairs grants from the City of San José; a grant from SVCreates, in partnership with the County of Santa Clara and the California Arts Council; funding from Poets & Writers; and with support from Anne & Mark's Art Party and The Center for Literary Arts. We would like to acknowledge and offer our deepest gratitude to our originally booked live venues for this festival: the Art Boutiki, Books Inc., Caravan Lounge, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Library, Forager, History/San José, Recycle Bookstore, and Works/San José.

Follow Poetry Center San José on Facebook and Twitter for announcements about performers and events as we get closer to the festival. Also, hear about other amazing South Bay poetry events happening between now and September!