Charleston’s first poetry festival is happening RIGHT NOW! For the month of October various poetry events and workshops will be taking place at multiple venues in downtown Charleston and West Ashley. Poets will be in schools promoting the power of the written word. Free Verse Festival

October 12th there will be a Youth Workshop from 4 to 5:30 at the Children’s Museum of the Lowcountry. Kids will have a half hour to play then write poems based on their experience. These poems will be on display at the museum on a later date. To register email Starr Jordan at starr@explorecml.org.

An Open Mic poetry event for elementary, middle, and high school students will be taking place this Friday, October 13th from 4:30-6pm at the downtown Charleston Library location.

While this month of poetry is taking place what better time to introduce poetry into your afterschool programs, encouraging further participation in these events and workshops. Use opportunities like the Free Verse Festival to introduce new activities in your own program that can then coincide with what’s happening within your community.