Spring Writes Literary Festival

Schedule of Events:

11:00am to 5:00pm: Ithaca Book and Zine Fair

Buffalo Street Books will hold the third annual Ithaca Book and Zine Fair. This event celebrates the freedom of expression and publishing outside the mainstream. Independent publishers, zine-makers, artists, DIYers, and writers from around the region will show and sell their wares. Throughout the day there will be free workshops on topics such as creative writing, zine-making, bookbinding, printing, and more.

Please Register: (There’s one Registration Form for all May 2 to 5 events.)

Location: Buffalo Street Books / Dewitt Mall, 215 N Cayuga Street

1:00pm to 2:00pm: Performances: Play It Again Theatre: Original Memoir on the Theme of Challenges

Seven members of Play It Again Theatre of Lifelong will read original stories from their lives. Each piece of memoir is based on the theme of “challenges.” Each individual reading will be supported by the Troupe with bits of dialogue, gestures, and vocalizations. These performative elements will help to enhance meaning as well as provide an entertaining experience. Troupe members range in age from 74 – 87 years of age. Readers include Patricia Frazier, Emily Johnson, Brenda Kuhn, Carol Reynolds, Jean Senegas, Deirdre Silverman, and Mark Silverman. Directed by Susan Kaplan.

Please Register: (There’s one Registration Form for all May 2 to 5 events.)

Location: tompkins County Public Library / 101 East Green Street (Borg Warner Room)

1:00pm to 2:00pm: Group Reading

Join us for a group reading with local authors Evan Stewart Eisenberg (excerpt from play “The Downstairs Neighbor”), Elisabeth Nonas (excerpt from her recently published novel “Grace Period”), and Jada Simone (poems from her chapbook “Unfollowed”) and SingTrece (reading songs from her first album “I’m Waiting.”

Please Register: (There’s one Registration Form for all May 2 to 5 events.)

Location: CAP ArtSpace (in tompkins Center for History & Culture) / 110 N. Tioga Street

2:30pm to 3:30pm: Workshop: Find The Funny

With Sir Kenneth McLaurin. Join us at the Spring Writes Literary Festival for a captivating one-hour workshop on stand-up comedy, led by Upstate NY’s favorite comedian, Sir Kenneth McLaurin. This beginner-friendly session offers a deep dive into the art of making people laugh, covering the essentials from joke crafting to stage presence. Discover the secrets behind: The Science of Laughter: Explore why laughter is a universal sign of joy / Anatomy of a Joke: Learn how jokes are structured to trigger laughter / Crafting Jokes: Get hands-on tips for writing your unique humor / Mic & Stage Mastery: Learn to command the stage and connect with your audience. Sir Kenneth’s workshop provides a supportive atmosphere for anyone looking to infuse humor into their storytelling or enhance public speaking skills. No prior experience needed—just come ready to learn and laugh. This is your chance to start your journey into comedy, transforming your observations into comedic gold. Join us to unlock the comedian within!

Please Register: (There’s one Registration Form for all May 2 to 5 events.)

Location: tompkins County Public Library / 101 East Green Street (Borg Warner Room)

2:30pm to 3:30pm: The Art of Poetry: Word and Image

Creative writers and artists alike are intrigued by the juxtaposition of word and image, what has been described as “the textuality of the image and the visuality of text.” Against that backdrop, four local poets and one artist/poet will read their poems in front of paintings they have made in response to those poems, renderings of their literal or metaphorical words and phrases in visual language. Audience members will be invited to reflect on both. With Terry Plater, Barbara Reganspan, Joanna Green, Daphne Sola and Susan Weitz.

Please Register: (There’s one Registration Form for all May 2 to 5 events.)

Location: CAP ArtSpace (in tompkins Center for History & Culture) / 110 North Tioga St

4:00pm to 5:00pm: Reading: Poems for Palestine

Palestinian poetry has been a voice for liberation for generations. In the last few months, dozens of Palestinian poets, artists, and writers have been killed in Gaza, including, Refaat Alareer who wrote his now famous poem “if I must die, you must live to tell my story.” In grief and solidarity, local poets will read Palestinian poetry and discuss the role of art and writing in the movement for liberation. We will share how these writers inspire us in our own writing and activism. As poetry editor George Abraham, a Palestinian-American poet, says in a recent interview in Time Magazine, “Poetry can’t stop a bullet. Poetry won’t free a prisoner. And that’s why we need to do the political organizing work as well,” they say. “But if we can’t imagine a free liberated world in language, how can we build one?” Readings by nicole v. basta, Amrita Chakroborty, Mejdulene Bernard Shomali and Melissa Tuckey.

Please Register: (There’s one Registration Form for all May 2 to 5 events.)

Location: CAP ArtSpace (in tompkins Center for History & Culture) / 110 North Tioga Street

4:00pm to 5:30pm: Comics Drama Radio Hour

Nerds! Join us for a live-recorded podcast on comic books, superheroes, and all things nerdy. This event will be a free-wheeling panel discussion, followed by a staged reading of a comic book. Audience participation is highly encouraged!

Please Register: (There’s one Registration Form for all May 2 to 5 events.)

Location: Ithaca Print Commons / in Center Ithaca, on The Commons, 171 E. State St./MLK Jr. St.

5:30pm to 6:30pm: Group Reading

Join us for a group reading with local writers Jon Raimon (poems about family, childhood, and coming of age), Janie Bibbie (poems about sounds), Michelle Courtney Berry (Grace, Gardenias, and Gospel: The Grandmother Poems), and Emily Sanders Hopkins (poems)

Please Register: (There’s one Registration Form for all May 2 to 5 events.)

Location: CAP ArtSpace (in tompkins Center for History & Culture) / 110 North Tioga Street