The 13th festival runs Thursday through Saturday, with readings, workshops and panels at venues around town. Students get in free.
LA CONNER — For three days starting Thursday, La Conner turns into a magnet for anyone who loves hearing poetry read out loud.
The 13th Skagit River Poetry Festival runs Thursday, Oct. 22, through Saturday, Oct. 24. Held every other year, it fills small venues around town with readings, writing workshops, interviews with poets and panel talks. The size of the rooms is a big part of the draw: audiences can get close to well-known writers in a way big-city events rarely allow.
Who’s coming
The festival’s 2026 lineup includes dozens of poets. Among them:
- Naomi Shihab Nye, the current Young People’s Poet Laureate, author or editor of more than 30 books
- Tess Gallagher
- Rena Priest, Kelli Russell Agodon, Susan Rich, Derek Sheffield and many other Northwest writers
Full poet bios and the schedule for each day are on the festival website, skagitriverpoetry.org, along with a map of venues, lodging and dining suggestions.
Tickets
Tickets are sold online through the festival website and at the door unless an event sells out. Students get in free with a student ID. The festival also holds a separate Student Day for young writers.
Signed copies of this year’s festival poster, a painting titled “Bookworm” by artist Cathy Shoenberg, will be for sale during the festival.
More than a festival
The festival is run by the Skagit River Poetry Foundation, a La Conner nonprofit that has put working poets in local classrooms since 1998. Its goal is to build reading and writing skills by letting kids hear and write poetry with professionals.
If you go, plan ahead for parking, and leave time to wander. Between sessions, La Conner’s waterfront shops, galleries and restaurants are just steps away.
Questions about the festival can be emailed to directorsrpp@gmail.com.
Sources: Skagit River Poetry Foundation, home page, Festival 2026 and 2026 poet bios.
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