A guide to Kansas poetry events during National Poetry Month

One thing that took me by surprise when I moved to Kansas is how strong the literary culture is, and particularly the poetry community. I had no idea there was a National Poetry Month until I lived here! Now, I can’t seem to look anywhere without catching the eye of a poetry happening in my town or yours.

I’ve been to my fair share of poetry readings and writing workshops across the state over the last decade, and I’m invested in keeping an ear to the ground for more. Even so, as I began my research for this April poetry event roundup, I had no idea that this many opportunities to explore poetry would be out there, and I’m sure I’m still missing some. All of this is to say: Go! Expand your horizons!

Wichita

• 6-8 p.m. April 1: Janice Northers and Huascar Medina poetry reading, Shakespeare’s Garden at Botanica, 701 Amidon St.
• 6-7:30 p.m. April 2: Community Writing Workshop, Big Read Edition, Advanced Learning Library, 711 W. 2nd St.
• 4-5:30 p.m. April 3: Big Read Poetry Workshop for Beginners, Advanced Learning Library, 711 W. 2nd St.
• 1:30-2:30 p.m. April 8: Senior Wednesday: Cat Poetry with Paul Klusman, Advanced Learning Library, 711 W. 2nd St.
• 6-8 p.m. April 8: April Pameticky & Kevin Rabas Poetry Reading, Shakespeare’s Garden at Botanica, 701 Amidon St.
• 4-5 p.m. April 10: Genre 101: Poetry, Advanced Learning Library, 711 W. 2nd St.
• 6-8 p.m. April 15: Jeanice Davis & Clarence Carvel Poetry Reading, Shakespeare’s Garden at Botanica, 701 Amidon St.
• 2-4 p.m. April 18: Big Read Family Poetry Program, Angelou Northeast Branch Library, 3051 E. 21st St. N. in Wichita
• 4-5:45 p.m. April 18: Big Read Keynote: Live Local Poetry Reading, Advanced Learning Library, 711 W. 2nd St.
• 6-8 p.m. April 22: Julie Ann Baker Brin & Traci Brimhall Poetry Reading, Shakespeare’s Garden at Botanica, 701 Amidon St.
• 6 p.m. April 30: Julie Ann Baker Brin author event, Watermark Books & Cafe, 4701 E. Douglas Ave.

Emporia

• 5-8 p.m. April 3: Diverse Voices Creative Writing Students featured at First Friday (Plum Bazaar, 615 Commercial St.
• 4-6 p.m. April 5: Diverse Voices Creative Writing Students featured at Goodway Sunday, Fremont Park, E. 4th Street and Union Street 
• 6:30-7:30 p.m. April 10: Author Talk: Poet Duane Herrmann, Emporia Public Library, 110 E. 6th Ave.
• 6-7 p.m. April 21: Emporia State University Visiting Writers Series Diverse Voices Elementary School Student Reading, Plumb Hall on the Emporia State campus (Room 408)
• 6-8 p.m. April 23: Poetry & Prose Writing Workshop & Reading with Meadowlark Press, Middle Ground Books, 606 Commercial St.

Matfield Green

• 3-4:30 p.m. April 11: “Gathering Meaning: Learning About Centos” with Huascar Medina, Matfield Community Church, 205 Bocook St. in Matfield Green, Kansas

Salina & Lindsborg

• 7 p.m. April 7: Adam Scheffler, Red Fern Booksellers, 106 S. Santa Fe Ave. in Salina
• April 9, 4 p.m. - “On Translating the Chilean Poet Rolando Cardenas,” a talk with Mathew Weitman, Birger Sandzen Memorial Galle​​ry, 401 N. 1st St. in Lindsborg
• 4 p.m. April 11: Poetry reading featuring Mathew Weitman, Kamryn Lydens, and Aubrey Givens, Red Barn Studio Museum, 212 S. Main St. in Lindsborg
• 7 p.m. April 14: Luisa Muradyan, Red Fern Booksellers
• 7 p.m. April 21: Jennifer Maritza McCauley, Red Fern Booksellers
• 7 p.m. April 28: Allison Blevins, Red Fern Booksellers

Lawrence

• 4-7:30 p.m. April 1: African & African Diasporic Language Festival, Burge Union on the University of Kansas campus, 1565 Irving Hill Rd. in Lawrence
• 7-9 p.m. April 15: Voltage, featuring Andrew Farkas, Replay Lounge, 946 Massachusetts St.
• 7 p.m. April 19: Poetry Much, featuring Fable J Briggs, Lucia, 1016 Massachusetts St.
• 5-7 p.m. April 21: French/Italian Poetry Night, Wescoe Hall on the KU campus, 1445 Jayhawk Blvd.

Topeka

• 3 p.m. April 1: Read a Poem Together with Curtis Becker, Mabee Library on the Washburn University campus, 1800 S.W. 19th St. 
• 6:30 p.m. April 1: First Wednesday Speak Easy Poetry Open Mic, featuring Matt Spezia, ArtsConnect, 909 N. Kansas Ave.
• 5:30-8:30 p.m. April 3: Poetry in Redbud Park, 123 N.E. Gordon St.
• 11 a.m. April 7: Ichabods Speak Out: Open Mic Poetry Reading Against Sexual Assault, Memorial Union on the Washburn campus, 1820 S.W. Jewell Ave.
• 3 p.m. April 8: Poems about Springtime with Eric McHenry, Mabee Library on the Washburn campus, 1800 S.W. 19th St. 
• 8:30 p.m. April 10: Poetry & Pours, Round Table Bookstore, 826 N. Kansas Ave. (This event will also stream on the bookstore’s Facebook page.)
• 3:45-4:45 p.m. April 13: Teen Art Club Poetry Creation Station, Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library, 1515 S.W. 10th Ave.
• 3 p.m. April 16: Poetry Writing Workshop with Dennis Etzel Jr., Mabee Library on the Washburn campus, 1800 S.W. 19th St. 
• 8:30 p.m. April 24: Poetry & Pours, Round Table Bookstore, 826 N. Kansas Ave. This event will also stream on the bookstore’s Facebook page.
• 3 p.m. April 28: Blackout Poetry with Melanie Burdick, Mabee Library on the Washburn campus, 1800 S.W. 19th St. 

Manhattan 

• 5:30-8:30 p.m. April 23: Poets & Prints, the Museum of Art + Light, 316 Pierre St.

Hays

• 9 a.m.-2 p.m. April 13: Poet-Tree Pop-Up, Hays Public Library, 1205 Main St.
• 6 - 8 p.m. April 13: Poetry & Pizza Night, Hays Public Library, 1205 Main St.

Kansas City, Kansas area

• Noon-1 p.m. April 1: Great Books: “Lunch Poems” presented by Matthew Schmeer, CoLab Center in the Office and Classroom Building on the Johnson County Community College campus,  12345 College Blvd. in Overland Park, Kansas. Also available virtually. 
• 1-4 p.m. April 4: Poetry Festival Johnson County Library — Central Resource, 9875 W. 87th St. in Overland Park
• 7-9 p.m. April 18: Slam Poetry Open Mic Night at the HOFF, Hometown Olathe Family Farm, 11000 S. Woodland St. in Olathe
• 2-3:30 p.m. April 22: Poetry Workshop with Beth Gulley, Kansas City Kansas Public Library — Main Library, 625 Minnesota Ave. in Kansas City, Kansas 
• 7-9 p.m. April 22: Poetry Night with Steve Brisendine, The Book Club, 5735 Johnson Dr. in Mission, Kansas

Kansas City, Missouri

• All Month: “We Hold These Truths,” a blackout poetry exhibition by Jose Faus, Kansas City Public Library Central Library, 14 W. 10th St.
• Noon April 7: Spoken Word Poetry Writing Workshop, Kansas City Public Library Central Library, 14 W. 10th St.
• 6:30 p.m. April 8: Poetic Underground KC Writing Workshop, the Livestock Exchange Building, Suite 200, 1600 Genessee St.
• April 8, 7:30-10 p.m. - Poetic Underground KC Open Mic, the Livestock Exchange Building, Suite 200, 1600 Genessee St.
• 7-9 p.m. April 12: Becky Plate and Mary Silwance, the Speakeasy at Swordfish Tom’s, 210 W. 19 Terrace
• 6:30 p.m. April 15: Poetic Underground KC Writing Workshop, the Livestock Exchange Building, Suite 200, 1600 Genessee St.
• 6:30 p.m. April 22: Poetic Underground KC Writing Workshop, the Livestock Exchange Building, Suite 200, 1600 Genessee St.
• April 22. - Poetic Underground KC Open Mic, the Livestock Exchange Building, Suite 200, 1600 Genessee St.
• April 29, 7:30-10 p.m. - Poetic Underground KC Open Mic, the Livestock Exchange Building, Suite 200, 1600 Genessee St.

Virtual

• 7-8 p.m. April 16: Birdy Poetry Prize Winner announcement event with Meadowlark Press

Linzi Garcia is a journalist, editor, teacher, and international poet. She resides in Emporia, Kansas, where she works for Meadowlark Press and House of Morrow. Linzi is a recipient of a NextGen Under 30 Kansas Award and Kansas Governor’s Arts Award.

Support Kansas arts writing

The SHOUT is a Wichita-based independent newsroom focused on artists living and working in Kansas. We're partly supported by the generosity of our readers, and every dollar we receive goes directly into the pocket of a contributing writer, editor, or photographer. Click here to support our work with a tax-deductible donation.