Events

Come celebrate THE TWENTY Youth Poetry Collection! 

The Edmonton Poetry Festival Society (EPFS) is launching a youth poetry book to showcase up-and-coming voices in poetry, as part of the festival’s 20th anniversary! The publication features 20 unique and thoughtful young poets responding to the prompt “my turn of phrase”. This event will feature 10 poets in the collection (along with another 10 at Part Two), plus opportunities for performance, connection and community for poets of every age.

This event is supported by The EAC’s Connections & Exchanges Grant Program.

Don’t forget to check out the original artwork featured in the book, by artist Jess Amos, on display at the COLAB gallery, April 19 thru 26, 2025.

Registration: Registration details are to be confirmed. Put this date in your calendar and stay tuned!

April 19 2025, 3-5pm
edmontonpoetryfestival.com

Venue

CO*LAB
9641 102A Ave NW
Edmonton, AB T5H 0G3 Canada

Join the Edmonton Poetry Festival Society at The Society of Northern Alberta Printmakers (SNAP) Gallery for an exploration of why-wait-to-be-published-when-you-can-do-it-yourself chapbook production. Facilitators Big Al and Abbigail Ketsa offer a sample of some of the methods you could borrow or straight-up steal to create, decorate, and procreate your own unique chapbook. 

Members of the SNAP artist collective will also be providing a behind-the-scenes orientation into the printmaking techniques and technology available in the SNAP studios. Did you know they have a moveable type press? Well, you do know now! 

Registration: Limited. The registration method is currently to be confirmed, so mark it on your calendar and stay tuned! Visit edmontonpoetryfestival.com/2025-festival/events-schedule to stay up to date. 

April 17 2025,  7pm

SNAP Gallery
10572 115 St NW
Edmonton, Alberta T5H 3K6 Canada

April 14

The Blinks 2025 is not your robot’s poetry! This year is all about “Putting the Art in Artificial Intelligence”. This event is invented and presented by the Stroll of Poets at the Edmonton Poetry Festival and has been for 20 years, making it one of the Festival’s founding events — and our birthday twin!

The Blinks is a challenge to create a poem (a Blink) to perform in 30 seconds, MAX! Any subject or style is welcome… though do remember there could be kids in the audience! Blinks can be snaps of fun, or searing. They can be sad, inspiring, or silly. Whatever tickles your neural nets.

If you don’t feel like showing off your smARTofficial intelligence, don’t you worry! You can still absolutely come along to sit back and enjoy the algo-rhythms. 

Please arrive in good time. Doors open at 6:30 pm and the performance starts at 7 pm.

Reader Sign-Up: If you would like to share a Blink, sign up in advance by sending an email to strollofpoetsblinks@gmail.com to be sent more detailed information. 

Registration: No registration is required for general attendance.

Admission: $5 cash at the door.

Venue

The Aviary
9314 111 Avenue NW
Edmonton, AB T5G 0A3 Canada

This year the Edmonton Poetry Festival turns 20! That’s 20 years coming together as a community to enjoy the varied poetic voices that ripple throughout our region. 20 years got us reflecting on the importance of community and how everyone – poets, artists, audiences, volunteers, collaborators and more – is essential to a successful festival. 

SO we’re throwing a birthday party for all our members and you’re invited. Not a member? Show up and we’ll make you one! We’ll have poetic performances from artists in the Festival, musical interludes (including Tzadeka and the Murder Hornettes), special guests, and of course, CAKE!  Refreshments will also be available for purchase / donation.

Registration: The method you can RSVP through is currently to be confirmed. Stay tuned — you don’t want to miss this! Visit edmontonpoetryfestival.com/2025-festival/events-schedule to stay up to date. 

Venue

April 11, 7:30 pm
Ortona Armory
9722 - 102nd st NW
 

Saturday, April 5, 2025
2 – 4 pm
Strathcona County Library

Celebrate National Poetry Month with an afternoon of poetry, hosted by Regional Writer in Residence Anna Marie Sewell and featuring two local poets, Kayleigh Cline and Don Perkins. There will also be an open mic session for those interested in sharing their own work. This event is co-presented with the Edmonton Poetry Festival.

Registration: Free but limited. Visit scl.bibliocommons.com/events/67c7645aa8a83528000fc560 to reserve your ticket. 

Event Series: Spotlight, Open Mic

Venue:
Strathcona County Library
410 Festival Lane
Sherwood Park, AB T8A 5P7 Canada