Poetry Happens Here
Santa Barbara is a thriving creative community which includes poets and poetry lovers of all kinds. Santa Barbara even has its own poetry press, Gunpowder Press, which includes local poets in its Shoreline Voices series.
Upcoming & Recent Poetry Events
- SB County Competition, Poetry Out Loud, Nov. 18SB County students recite poetry, hoping to move to the statewide competition.
- Three Counties, Three Poets Laureate, November 16A reading by Mary Ann McFadden, Poet Laureate of Ventura County, Caleb Nichols, Poet Laureate of San Luis Obispo County, George Yatchisin, Poet Laureate of the City of Santa Barbara.
- Blue Whale Reading: Bonnie Bolling and Laure-Anne Bosselaar, Nov. 11Blue Whale Reading Series, featuring poets Bonnie Bolling and Laure-Anne Bosselaar. Wednesday, Nov. 11, 5:30 pm, Unity of SB Chapel.
- Lowstate Writing Salon, Nov. 10Writing community w/ big focus on play & sparking something weird. We’re about word games & praise kinks. Tues., Nov. 10, 7pm, at Blue Owl.
- Poetry Zone Open Mic, November 5Bjorn Birnir hosts an open mic at the Poetry Zone on Thursday, November 5, 4-6 pm.
- Work sought for MLK Day youth poetry and essay contest, deadline October 30Youth 6-18 are invited to submit poems inspired by MLK Jr. and the theme of justice.