Richmond Poetry Fest brings readings, workshops and activities to Visual Arts Center of Richmond

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Richmond Poetry Fest is returning for its third year to the Visual Arts Center of Richmond, with readings, workshops, vendors and activities scheduled for Friday and Saturday.

According to the arts center, all events throughout the Richmond Poetry Fest are free and open to the public.

"The Basement's Wild at Heart Series" will kick off the fest from 7 to 11 p.m. on Friday, April 11, with poetry and prose by Qing Blaze, Skylar Colby, Luisa Black Ellis, Joanna Lee and Rieka Speaks.

Friday evening's festivities will also include a burlesque performance by Kayy Lovely, a conversation with Eric "ESH" Hornsby and Rosa Castellano, as well as both poetry karaoke and classic karaoke. Events on Friday are for folks 18 and older.

All-day activities on Saturday, April 12 will include all-ages art-making, including screen-printing, clay and letterpress, as well as the Richmond Young Writers workshop. Folks can also see the Inter//Section ekphrastic exhibition throughout the day.

Beginning at 11 a.m. on Saturday, attendees will hear a reading from middle and high school students featured in the inaugural Youth Voices of RVA poetry anthology. A drag poetry story hour will also be held with Michelle Livigne.

At 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, music and poetry will be performed by JJJJJerome Ellis, with works from their debut collection, "Aster of Ceremonies."

River City Poets will host readings at 2 p.m. on Saturday. Community poetry readings will then begin at 3 p.m. on Saturday.

Concluding the fest's events will be "1-2-3 Slam!" a fast-paced poetry slam with 1-minute, 2-minute and 3-minute rounds hosted by Roscoe Burnems from 6 to 8 p.m. on Saturday.

For more information, visit Visual Arts Center of Richmond's website.