Can't-Miss National Poetry Month Events & Contests in North Carolina
- Angela Heiser
- 1 day ago
- 7 min read
This week kicks off National Poetry Month and North Carolina does not disappoint with its many events. You can attend a reading or spoken word performance to marvel at skilled practitioners of the craft, submit your work to a contest or anthology, or go to a festival and be inspired by poetry, music, art, and delicious food. We can’t possibly cover them all, but we’ve compiled a list of some of the most exciting National Poetry Months events and contests across the state for you to check out below.
Ink & Oak's K-12 Poetry Contest
Open Now Through April 30
Ink & Oak is excited to announce our inaugural K-12 poetry contest judged by Carrboro Poet Laureate Dr. Amanda Bennett and Head Editor Kaleigh Johnson. The top three winners will be interviewed and published by Ink & Oak and will be sent a signed certificate, congratulatory letter, and writing-related goodies.
Poetry on Display at the East Regional Library in Durham
Local poets submitted poems that will be displayed in Durham’s East Regional Library from April 2026 to April 2027. Visit to read what kids, teens, and adults from in and around Durham have been writing. Angela has two poems on display and can’t wait for you to read them. Send in a photo if you spot them!
A Front Porch Conversation: Southern Voice in Narrative Poetry: April 1st at Oberlin Regional Library (Raleigh), 6:30-8 PM
Angela will be here, too! Spend an evening with Dasan Ahanu and learn about his approach to narrative poetry. Hear poems from three of his books Shackled Freedom, Month of Sundays, and Concrete Jungle Allegories. This event is free to attend, but registration is requested.
Rough Drafts with Donovan Livingston: April 2nd at Epilogue Books (Chapel Hill)
Epilogue Books in Chapel Hill hosts a monthly free poetry workshop with Chapel Hill Poet Laureate, Donovan Livingston. Register to attend at the link above.
Poetry in Plain Sight Launch: April 4th at Oberlin Regional Library (Raleigh), 1:30-3:30 PM
Meet up with Angela and hear work from some of the 48 poets chosen to have their work displayed around the state in libraries, bookstores, and coffee shops. This event is free and open to the public, but registration is requested at the link above. Light snacks will be served following the reading and the event will close with an open mic. Open mic sign ups will occur in person at the event.
Spring Literary Festival: April 6-9 at Western Carolina University (Cullowhee)
WCU hosts a free festival featuring Ross Gay, Gabrielle Calvocoressi, Joy Priest, Catherine Carter, and many others. There will be readings, book signings and panel discussions during this three day event. Attendance is free, but registration is required.
Generative In-Person Workshop With Hannah Botkin: April 7th at That’s Novel Books (Charlotte), 6 PM
Hannah Botkin is a local teacher and poet leading this generative workshop on an introduction to poetry and imagery. Free to attend, but be sure to click the link above to reserve your spot!
Poet Tea: April 9th at the East Regional Library (Knightdale), 6:30 PM
Head to the Knightdale library for an evening of round table poetry reading and tea sipping. You are invited to listen and share a beloved poem. Registration requested.
A Walk with Poetry: April 11 at Shelley Lake Park (Raleigh), 12-5 PM
Come out to hear Kiana Renee, Dasan Ahanu, and others perform at Shelley Lake Park. Tickets are required, but free. Events on the main stage do not require tickets.
Poetry Writing Workshop with Liza Wolff-Francis: April 14 at Dare Arts (Manteo), 1-4 PM
Liza Wolff-Francis is a former Poet Laureate of Carrboro. She hosts this poetry workshop in Manteo with Dare Arts.
Second Sunday Poetry Series: April 12th at Flyleaf Books (Chapel Hill), 2:30 PM
This reading will feature Catherine Carter and Scott Owens. Catherine Carter, a professor at Western Carolina University, is the author of four full-length collections, most recently By Stone and Needle (LSU Press). Scott Owens, Poet Laureate of Hickory NC, is the author of 24 collections of poetry, most recently The Song Is Why We Sing and Elemental. Come early to connect with other poetry enthusiasts and to browse the bookstore. Bring one of your own poems for the open mic!
Southern Roots: A Conversation With Spring Council and Jaki Shelton Green: April 13th at Epilogue Books (Chapel Hill), 7 PM
North Carolina Poet Laureate Jaki Shelton Green and writer Spring Council host a conversation in honor of National Poetry Month and Mama Dip’s (Spring Council's mother) birthday. Stay for the book signing! Epilogue carries several of Green’s titles, as well as Spring Council’s Southern Roots.
Weave & Spin: April 15 at Eno Arts Mill Gallery (Hillsborough), 7 PM
Morrow Dowdle founded Weave & Spin with support from the Orange County Arts Commission to create space to uplift voices of BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ and other historically marginalized community members. Enjoy performances from local poets and artists each month. Attendance is free, but limited to individuals 18+.
Third Wednesday Freshly Brewed Poems Open Mic: April 15th at Tapyard Raleigh, 6:30 PM
Bring up to three poems or five minutes of material for the open mic. Sign up opens at 6:30 and the event kicks off at 7.
Poetry at Dix Park: April 17th at Dorothea Dix Park (Raleigh), 6 PM
Come enjoy an open mic in the park! Tickets are only required for performers; audience members do not need to register in advance to attend. This is a family-friendly event, so plan accordingly which pieces you’d like to read.
Poetic Justice Live Stage Play and Showcase: April 17th at The Fresh Collective (Raleigh), 7 PM
This is a joint venture of Creative Black Cinema, Porsha the Poet, and The Poetry Lounge. You’re in for a treat with this one. Film, music, poetry, and culture all mix for this event. Make sure you grab a ticket before going!
Gilbert-Chappell Mentee Reading: April 18th at Chapel Hill Public Library (Meeting Room B), 3:30 PM
This event is free and open to the public. It showcases work from a mentorship series of the North Carolina Poetry Society. Kendal Dixon, Zoe Eaton, Andreevich Tew, and Mindy Stahl have been working on their craft to present their workshopped poems at this event.
The Lecture: Poetry Reading and Craft Talk: April 18th at the Hayti Heritage Center (Durham), 1:30 PM
Prepare to be mesmerized by the talented Ebony Stewart, learn about craft, and have your book signed. Best of all, it’s an inclusive, pay-what-you-can event. Don’t miss this one!
Jambalaya Soul Slam: April 18th at the Hayti Heritage Center (Durham), 8 PM
The Jambalaya Soul Slam is celebrating National Poetry Month by presenting a team poetry slam scrimmage. Teams of poets from across the region will travel to Durham to compete against the Bull City Slam Team.
Poetry in the Park: April 20 at Lake Norman State Park (Iredell), 2 PM
As part of Arts in the Parks, this inaugural performance series is being offered by the NC Division of Parks and Recreation. Josephus III, the host of The Poetry Cafe, will host the event. There will be live music, a story walk, poetry readings, and activities to inspire your next poem.
Poetry Workshop: April 20 at the Madison County Library, 3 PM
Attend a workshop in Marshall with Tiffany Narron, a local poet. This event is open to adults and teens and is walk-in friendly, no need to pre-register.
Pizza and Poetics: April 23rd at the Chapel Hill Library, 5 PM
Teens, this one is especially for you! Registration is required and will close an hour before the event begins. Ages 13 to 18 are encouraged to share poetry and feedback over pizza in a relaxed setting.
Gilbert-Chappell Mentee Reading: April 23rd at the Faulkner Gallery in the Joyner Library at ECU, 5-7 PM
This reading features Regional Coordinator Kelly Jones and poet Gideon Young. Poet mentees include Edward Palmer, Cynthia Ward, Kimberly Pelagio-Luis, and Sneha Pannala.
Sip & Speak: April 24-26 in Downtown Belmont, 6 PM
This free, weekend-long event is a must! A poetry crawl in downtown Belmont is the tagline for this festival. There will be music, spoken word, visual arts, and more. Stop by for a fun crawl through restaurants, food trucks, and a local bookstore, the Belmont Bookshop.
Poetry Cafe and Open Mic: April 25th at the Northeast Regional Library (Raleigh), 2 PM
Bring a poem or two to read aloud. Free to attend, but registration is requested at the link above.
Oberlin Writers’ Group: Blackout Poetry: April 26th at Oberlin Regional Library (Raleigh), 2 PM
Join librarian Alexander Youngman and try your hand at blackout (aka erasure) poetry. Free to attend for ages 18 and up with registration.
Poetry at the Park: April 27th at Eno River State Park (Durham), 2 PM
This is also part of Arts in the Parks. Expect live music, a story walk, poetry readings, and activities to inspire your next poem.
the poet is a verb: April 30th at the Chapel Hill Public Library, 6 PM
Donovan Livingston, Chapel Hill’s Poet Laureate, invites you to a community celebration of poetry with readings followed by an open mic. The entire month of April, Donovan Livingston and Chapel Hill Public Library have offerings like magnet poetry stations, poetry book recommendations, poetry displays, and more. Follow along at the library’s Instagram and Chapel Hill’s Community Arts and Culture Instagram to learn more!
The Intersection of Poetry & Community
Enjoy a sampling of poetry from all corners of the state this National Poetry Month. Attend a generative workshop, write your next original poem, and try it out at an open mic before sending it our way. Stay tuned for the results of the inaugural K-12 Poetry Contest at Ink & Oak.
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