APRIL 5-13, 2025 | GAINESVILLE, FLORIDA
Come join us in celebrating Alachua County's Bicentennial Birthday!
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Featured American Poet
LOLA HASKINS
Lola Haskins has published 15 books of poetry and three of prose. The most recent books of poems are Like Zeros, Like Pearls, (Charlotte Lit 2025), Homelight (Charlotte Lit 2023) --named Poetry Book of the Year by Southern Literary Review, and Asylum (University of Pittsburgh, 2019)-- featured in the NYT Magazine. Past honors include the Iowa Poetry Prize, two Florida Book Awards, narrative poetry prizes from Southern Poetry Review and New England Poetry Review, a Florida's Eden prize for environmental writing, and the Emily Dickinson prize from Poetry Society of America. She has served as Honorary Chancelor for the Florida State Poets Association since 2016.


BARD & BROADSIDE NORTH CENTRAL FLORIDA POETRY FESTIVAL
North Central Florida's Premier Poetry Festival is the only festival in North Central Florida dedicated to the art of poetry in all its many diverse forms. Held in the beautiful city of Gainesville, Florida. ​​​
All Festival Activities are Free and Public!
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
From April 5 - 13, Bard & Broadside Poetry Festival is bringing together the North Central Florida community and artists for collaborative sessions that will help you discover a new way to use your words. In addition to workshops, poetry events, and youth activities, you will learn how American Poet Lola Haskins explores strategies to enrich art.
All events are first come, first serve and FREE and open to the public.
Saturday, April 5 / 1:00p - 3:00p
WORD SLAY:"Standing On Words"
Teen Spoken-Word Poetry & Monologue Competition
Alachua County Library District's Headquarters
401 E University Ave, Gainesville, FL

Sunday, April 6th
Youth Poet Laureate Commencement Ceremony
North Central Florida - Alachua County
Alachua County Library District's Headquarters
401 E University Ave, Gainesville, FL

Tuesday, April 8 / 6:30p - 8:00p
Where We Live: 200 Years in Community
AN EXPLORATION of EDEN:
Poetry, History, Art and Humanities in Alachua County
Encouraging Community Connections!
A Panel Discussion and Conversation with community members, artists, scholars and historians.
Matheson History Museum of Alachua County
513 E. University Ave., Gainesville, FL.



Thursday, April 10th / 6:00p - 9:00p
Museum Nights
Join our local poetry community and guests for an Open Mic Night!​
Free & open to the public. All poets are welcome. Some content may not be appropriate for children.
Harn Museum of Art
3259 Hull Rd, Gainesville, FL 32608
Co-hosted by ARTSPEAKSgnv, Civic Media Center's Thursday Night Poetry Jam, UF Living Poets Society and The University of Florida Harn Museum of Art
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Open Mic at The Harn Museum of Art

Friday, April 11th / 6:30p - 9:00p
Free Fridays Concert
Join us at Bo Diddley Plaza For MUSIC and POETRY
FEATURING: BENNIE & THE BAND
Attendees are invited to share their poems on stage during the Open Mic intermission
Bo Diddley Plaza
111 E. University Ave. Gainesville, FL

Saturday, April 12 / 6:30p
SWAMP-BERRY JAM: Poetry Slam
North Central Florida's Premier Poetry Slam
Featuring America's Best Slam Poets!
Vecinos Neighborhood Restaurant and Bar
208 W University Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601
Sunday, April 13 / 1:00p - 3:00p
Free Community Poetry + Creative Writing Workshop
Workshop facilitated by special guest poet Lola Haskins
Alachua County Library District's Headquarters
401 E University Ave, Gainesville, FL​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​
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Sunday, April 13 / 4:00p - 5:00p
Poetry Reading + Book Signing
Book Signing facilitated by special guest poet Lola Haskins
Alachua County Library District's Headquarters
401 E University Ave, Gainesville, FL​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

SUPPORT THIS EVENT!
Your generous contribution will help continue to bring programs like the Bard & Broadside Poetry Festival to our community free of charge.
​
This event is brought to you by, ARTSPEAKSgnv Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The organization's primary mission is to support literacy in youth and adults through the art of Poetry, Spoken Word, Storytelling, and Creative Writing. ARTSPEAKS promotes healthy communities by utilizing all forms of creativity and artistic expression through collaboration with educational and public health organizations.
​
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

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Funding for this program was provided through a grant from Florida Humanities with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this (publication) (program) (exhibition) (website) do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities.
For more information, contact bardandbroadside@gmail.com
Saturday, April 5 | 1:00p - 3:00p
WORD SLAY:"Standing On Words"
Teen Spoken-Word Poetry & Monologue Competition
Alachua County Library District's Headquarters
401 E University Ave, Gainesville, FL

Sunday, April 6th
Youth Poet Laureate Commencement Ceremony
North Central Florida - Alachua County
Alachua County Library District's Headquarters
401 E University Ave, Gainesville, FL


Thursday, April 10th | 6:00p - 9:00p
Open Mic at Harn Museum Nights
Join our local poetry community and guests for an Open Mic Night!​
Free & open to the public. All poets are welcome. Some content may not be appropriate for children.
Harn Museum of Art
3259 Hull Rd, Gainesville, FL 32608
Co-hosted by ARTSPEAKSgnv, the Civic Media Center's Thursday Night Poetry Jam, Gainesville's DOPEnmic, & UF's Living Poets Society

Friday, April 11th | 7:00p - 9:00p
Free Fridays Concert
Join us at Bo Diddley Plaza and enjoy a plethora of musical talent!
Bo Diddley Plaza
111 E. University Ave. Gainesville, FL

Saturday, April 12 | 6:30p
Swamp Berry Jam
North Central Florida's Premier Poetry Slam
Featuring Many of America's Best Slam Poets!
Vecinos Neighborhood Restaurant and Bar
208 W University Ave, Gainesville, FL 32601
Sunday, April 13 | 1:00p - 3:00p (Workshop) + 4:00p - 5:00p (Signing)
Free Community Poetry + Creative Writing Workshop
Poetry Reading + Book Signing
Workshop & Book Signing facilitated by special guest poet Lola Haskins
Alachua County Library District's Headquarters
401 E University Ave, Gainesville, FL

SUPPORT THIS EVENT!
Your generous contribution will help continue to bring programs like the Bard & Broadside Poetry Festival to our community free of charge.
​
This event is brought to you by, ARTSPEAKSgnv Inc., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The organization's primary mission is to support literacy in youth and adults through the art of Poetry, Spoken Word, Storytelling, and Creative Writing. ARTSPEAKS promotes healthy communities by utilizing all forms of creativity and artistic expression through collaboration with educational and public health organizations.
​
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS

.jpg)
Funding for this program was provided through a grant from Florida Humanities with funds from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this (publication) (program) (exhibition) (website) do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities.
For more information, contact bardandbroadside@gmail.com