On a September Sunday, downtown Petaluma transforms into something more than its already picturesque self.
Side streets, bookshops, cafes and even the venerable Hotel Petaluma ballroom become stages for 26 poets, who will lend their voices and verse to a nearly 30 year tradition.
This year, the Petaluma Poetry Walk celebrates its 28th year, a tradition that began in 1996 when the late poet Geri Digiorno brought together poets and listeners for a literary experiment that stuck. Nearly three decades later, the event remains free, expansive and steeped in the cultural character that earned Petaluma the tongue-in-cheek honor of being named one of the “Vibiest Towns in America” by Apartment Therapy.
The walk’s new director is author and editor Kary Hess, a regular Bohemian contributor (and married to its editor), who has stepped into leadership of the event following longtime director Bill Vartnaw, who likewise continued in the footsteps of founder Geri Digiorno. Hess is not just inheriting a festival—she’s carrying forward a local legacy.
“The first poetry walk I attended was in the 1990s when Geri Digiorno was producing it,” Hess recalls. “I heard so many great poets perform, including women like Diane di Prima at the Apple Box Café and Terry Ehret, who later became the Sonoma County poet laureate and still participates in the poetry walk today.
“Men still dominated the literary scene then, and the experience of hearing women poets perform their creative work helped me think that maybe I could do something with poetry too. I’m so honored to be continuing that tradition of bringing together a diversity of poets’ voices, and hopefully it will inspire many others in the same way,” Hess continues.
Building the Lineup
Part of the walk’s enduring charm is its balance of literary heavyweights and emerging voices, all presented in an accessible format. This year’s roster includes Pulitzer Prize finalist Dorianne Laux (who also read at the very first walk in 1996), her partner and fellow poet Joseph Millar, Berkeley Poetry Festival Lifetime Achievement Award winner Tureeda Mikell, current Sonoma County poet laureate Dave Seter, and youth laureates Anaya Ertz and Lisa Zheng—just to name a few.
For Hess, the mix is both organic and deliberate. “Luckily the Bay Area and beyond is full of talent. Some of the poets themselves reached out, like (ironically) the Unsolicited Press Poets; others were people I knew who were already performing together, like the Sixteen Rivers Poets and the Found Poets. The walk’s former director, Bill Vartnaw, was instrumental in bringing in the more established poets, as he has been working with them for a long time,” she explains.
Unlike many literary festivals that take place in a single venue, the poetry walk is defined by its reach. Audiences drift between the Hotel Petaluma ballroom, Keller Street CoWork, the Phoenix Theater, The Big Easy, Copperfield’s Books, Usher Gallery, the Petaluma Historical Library & Museum and Aqus Café. Each space takes on the energy of the poets it hosts, while the city itself becomes the connective thread.
“Traditional venues are one and done and might last a few hours,” Hess explains. “While the Petaluma Poetry Walk goes from 11am-8pm, each individual event is only about 45 minutes long. There are eight events to choose from in eight different venues within walking distance of each other. This walkable downtown setting allows attendees to choose their poets and their venues and even start the day with brunch or take a break for lunch right downtown if desired.
“People can attend one event, three events or even all of them. Being able to get up, talk, stretch and walk to the next venue every hour keeps it energetic, and there is such a multiplicity of poetry to enjoy,” she adds.
That mix of intimacy and variety has long been the poetry walk’s hallmark—an event where a Pulitzer finalist might follow a teenager reading their first published work, all within the space of a few blocks
This year marks not only a continuation but also an expansion. Under Hess’ direction, the poetry walk will extend its life beyond its one-day format through new publishing and digital projects.
“The poetry walk is a yearly, free event so it’s accessible to all and also ephemeral,” Hess says. “The new Petaluma Poetry Walk magazine serves as an anthology and keepsake of the event, and an introduction to the work of all the participating poets—and buying one is a way for people to support the event financially. If you missed any of the poets, or want to know more about them, you can read a poem from everyone who read at this year’s event in the magazine.”
She also sees the Substack newsletter as a way to keep the community engaged in between walks. “The poetry walk newsletter keeps subscribers in-the-know about the yearly event and highlights the various performers. Since it’s on Substack, the newsletter is free, and there is also a paid option so people have a really simple way of supporting the poetry walk if they choose,” she notes.
These initiatives recognize that while poetry is fleeting, the need for connection is constant. A magazine and newsletter can extend that sense of belonging throughout the year.
The Poetry Vibe
When asked how the walk connects to Petaluma’s cultural reputation as one of the “Vibiest Towns in America,” Hess doesn’t hesitate. “I mean, a yearly poetry festival that has been around almost 30 years is totally vibey,” she says with a laugh.
“The event has hosted poets laureate alongside up-and-coming voices. Last year the California, San Francisco and Key West poets laureate all read. This year, Pulitzer Prize finalist Dorianne Laux will be headlining along with poet Joseph Millar. It’s a cultural niche festival that has become a destination event over the past three decades. It also ends up being somewhat of a reunion of poets who all get to come together in one place, once a year,” she adds.
Hess’ role comes with both weight and opportunity. Digiorno’s founding vision, Vartnaw’s decades of stewardship and the countless poets who have graced the walk’s stages have made it a fixture in Northern California’s cultural calendar. Now, with Hess at the helm, the event is poised to continue thriving—rooted in its past, but open to the future.
Petaluma Poetry Walk, 11am–8pm, Sunday, Sept. 21. Downtown Petaluma venues include Hotel Petaluma, Phoenix Theater, Copperfield’s Books, Aqus Café and more. Free admission.
For the full schedule, visit petalumapoetrywalk.org. To subscribe to the new newsletter or support the festival, see petalumapoetrywalk.substack.com.
