At first glance, a “Poetry Festival” might sound rather posh, and perhaps not fitting to a project focusing on the popular. However, my experience at the 2016 Edmonton Poetry Festival demonstrated that, rather than exclusive and academic, a poetry festival can be welcoming and including to all members of the public, regardless of their previous experience with poetry.

The week-long festival took place from April 17-24 2016 and included a multitude of events hosted by several locations across the city. ‘Poetry Central’ took place every day at Winston Churchill Square. There were a few booths set up for the festival volunteers handing out pamphlets, a chalkboard schedule of the day’s events, and some activities – but this was primarily a causal and relaxed space. Many members of the public simply enjoyed lunch in the sun, and were not particularly interested in the poetry. Others wandered about, curious, and stayed for a few minutes before heading on their way.

Various activities encouraged the public to take part in the festival. There was chalk provided for writing poetry on the square, although many young children also chose to take advantage of the supplies by drawing pictures on the asphalt. This activity was not discouraged--creativity, inclusivity, and community interaction were valued over a singular focus on poetics.

Fridges and magnets added another interactive element to the festival. Members of the public could play around with and re-arrange fridge magnets with various letters or words into poems. Most people opted to simply read the lines that were already there, or to move letters around but give up before forming a piece. Still, a few individuals patched together some poetry. Poem writing was encouraged in other ways as well; there was an opportunity for anyone willing to try their hand at poetry to write a Haiku on business card which would be entered for a draw.

Members of the public could also visit the booth for short-order poetry, where he or she could ask a volunteer to write an on-the-spot poem about a particular subject.

During one lunch hour while I visited the square, there was a poetry reading and performance. While there was an opportunity for the audience to be engaged, there was no obligation for them to participate in any way. In fact, the space was so casual that many people wandered in and out during the performance. Those passing by the square often stopped for a few seconds to hear a few lines of poetry and moved on.

The festival also included a number of more formal events held throughout the city. Many of these events illustrated the connection between poetry and other aspects of everyday life. For example, the 2016 Poetry Festival included events about poetry and art, science, identity, and social justice. Audrey's Books, the University of Alberta, the City Hall, and the stanleymilnerlibrary are a few of the locations that hosted events for the festival. Most events were free, a few were free to members of the Poetry Festival, and a few had a charge for all individuals.

These festival events involved a wide range of people including writers, publishers, audience members, and school groups. Well-known poets, such as former poet laureate and festival founder Alice Major, were featured at the festival, as well as newer faces. YEP!--short for Young Edmonton Poets, an organization for poets aged 13-23--also held a showcase.

The Festival involves both the production and the performance of poetry, hosting workshops for writers and giving them a stage to share their work. On could also find poetry in other languages, listen special guest speakers, visit book launches, and interact with media outlets such as the CBC.

There were certainly opportunities for festival goers to buy print items. Customers could support local poets by attending and making a purchase from book launches. However, the festival didn't feel commercialized. Much of the print that festival goers encountered was free--pamphlets, festival posters, and workshop materials.

The wide variety of events and inclusive atmosphere transformed what could be a very exclusive gathering into a welcoming and fun event. No knowledge or poetry was needed to participate in the festival. One did not even need to intentionally visit an event to appreciate a few poetic lines while walking downtown. On the other hand, workshops and readings provided opportunities for those who did hold a particular interest in poetry. A closer look at individual events and how they are repeated or evolve over several years would be a valuable goal to learn more about the festival and poetry in Edmonton more generally. After my brief experience at the festival, it seems unsurprising that the festival has endured ten years--and it would not be surprising to see it continue for decades into the future.

Last Updated: Nov 11, 2016