Sierra Poetry Festival Announces Month-Long Fringe Events and Tenth Anniversary Celebration

Grass Valley, CA—March 10, 2026: The Sierra Poetry Festival (SPF) is set to return with a month-long “fringe” festival culminating in a main stage event on Saturday, April 18, at The Center for the Arts in Grass Valley. This year marks the festival’s tenth anniversary, celebrating both regional and national poetic voices.

Fringe Festival Kicks Off with Open Mic Competition

The fringe festival begins on Thursday, March 12, from 6:00-8:00pm with an Open Mic night at Alibi in Truckee. Hosted by Nevada County Poet Laureate Karen Terrey of Tangled Roots Writing, this event offers poets a chance to compete for a spot on the main stage during the Community Voices segment of the festival. A panel of judges will evaluate performances based on content, presence, and overall impact.

Community and Creativity with UNESCO World Poetry Day

On Saturday, March 21, from 11:00am-3:00pm, community members are invited to participate in a generative writing event at Wonder Docent in Nevada City, celebrating UNESCO World Poetry Day. Hosted by local poets and Sierra Poetry Festival committee members, the event is open to writers of all ages and abilities. Poems created during the session will be displayed at The Center for the Arts during the festival. Learn more about the fringe events.

Nevada City Poetry Crawl and Film Screening

The 2nd Annual Nevada City Poetry Crawl will take place on Saturday, March 28, from 3:00-6:00pm at various locations in downtown Nevada City, including a special reading at ‘Uba Seo. Attendees can enjoy poetry and workshops from local favorites like The Poetry Crashers and Nevada County Poet Laureate Karen Terrey, as well as recent Poetry Out Loud youth champions.

To kick off National Poetry Month, the Sierra Poetry Festival has partnered with The Onyx for a fundraiser and screening of the film Paterson at the Nevada Theatre on Wednesday, April 1. The 2016 film, directed by Jim Jarmusch and starring Adam Driver and Golshifteh Farahani, won the Palm Dog Award at the Cannes Film Festival.

Grass Valley Open Mic Poetry Slam

The third annual Grass Valley Open Mic Poetry Slam will be held on Thursday, April 16, at 5:30pm at the Iron Door Saloon. Poets will perform original work for a panel of judges, with two winners earning a spot in the Community Voices segment at the Sierra Poetry Festival.

Main Stage Event Details

The Sierra Poetry Festival’s main stage event will be held on Saturday, April 18, from 8:30 a.m. To 6:00 p.m. At The Center for the Arts, located at 314 West Main Street, Grass Valley. Tickets range from $20 to $45 and are free for students of all ages, active military, veterans, and Gold Star families with valid identification. This year’s event features former United States Poet Laureate Robert Hass and Guggenheim Fellow Brenda Hillman as keynote speakers, alongside Major Jackson, Francesca Bell, Tongo Eisen-Martin, Jimmy Vega, Marcelo Hernandez Castillo, and José Hernandez Diaz. More information about the festival can be found on the Nevada County Arts Council website.

The festival encompasses over two dozen readings, workshops, book launches, and collaborations, most of which are free with a suggested donation. Follow the festival on Instagram or Facebook for updates.