Cascadia Poetics Lab Announces 9th Cascadia Poetry Festival

The Cascadia Poetics Lab is set to host the 9th Cascadia Poetry Festival from October 10-12, 2025, in Seattle, Washington. This event will feature a series of writing workshops, panel discussions, and readings with notable poets and academics from the Cascadia bioregion and beyond. Venues for the festival include the Rainier Beach Community Club, Kubota Garden, and Redwing Café, offering a diverse backdrop for the exploration of poetry's connection to environmental, political, historical, and sociological themes.

The festival's focus on natural and cultural boundaries over arbitrary political ones highlights its commitment to addressing climate change and other urgent social and political challenges through the lens of poetry. Participants will have the opportunity to engage with featured speakers such as Brenda Cárdenas, Jim Dott, and Brenda Hillman, among others, who will share their insights and works. Workshops will delve into various poetic practices, including ekphrasis, lyric and form, and the interplay between internal and external worlds, providing attendees with a rich, immersive experience.

An afterparty hosted by Greg Bem of Carbonation Press and Cascadia 2050, the youth initiative of Cascadia Poetics Lab, will take place at Jude's in Rainier Beach, offering a casual setting for further discussion and networking. The festival is supported by a range of sponsors, including 4Culture, Creative West, and the National Endowment for the Arts, underscoring the event's significance and reach.

For those interested in attending, registration for gold passes, workshop packages, reading packages, and student passes is now available. More details about the festival and the Cascadia Poetics Lab's broader initiatives can be found on their website. This gathering not only celebrates the power of poetry but also its potential to foster meaningful dialogue and action on pressing global issues.