Let’s be clear—the Petaluma Poetry Walk isn’t offering “pedestrian poetry.” Quite the contrary. Featuring a lineup of local laureates and more literati than can fit in a bookstore poetry section, the stroll-friendly literary event returns for its 27th year this Sunday, Sept. 15.
The walk promises a variety of verse stylings from 25 notable poets, all of whom will perform their work aloud throughout the city.
“It’s a rare chance to hear prominent writers read their own work,” said Kary Hess, one of three co-producers putting together this year’s Petaluma Poetry Walk (and a Bohemian contributor). “And if you are ‘poetry-curious,’ this event is a great way to test the waters. There is such variety among the 25 poets this year, including poetry that incorporates a dance performance by Maxine Flasher-Düzgüneş at the Phoenix Theater, and poets from the Sonoma Writers’ Workshop reading at Keller Street CoWork accompanied by music.”
“There are eight separate events throughout the town,” continued Hess. “You can attend all or just some of them. Go to the website and decide which ones look interesting. Since it’s all over downtown Petaluma, you can make a day of it, meet friends, have lunch and enjoy a variety of places you may not have been to before. There will be wine and cheese at the cheese shop and dinner options at Aqus Cafe.”
Dave Seter, co-producer of the walk and Sonoma County’s poet laureate for 2024 through 2026, concurs. “There’s something for everyone [at the Petaluma Poetry Walk],” he said.
Alongside Sonoma’s own poet laureate, this year’s Petaluma Poetry Walk will welcome several other accomplished, laurel-crowned poets, such as California poet laureate Lee Herrick and San Francisco poet laureate Genny Lim.
“It’s a rare opportunity to hear these two accomplished poets read together,” noted Seter.
As Hess pointed out, “Bay Area poets from San Francisco, Oakland, Marin and Sonoma counties, and even Raleigh Review’s Geri Digiorno Prize winner Emily Schulten from Florida will all be [at the walk].” She added, “It’s an amazing opportunity to hear poets from the contemporary poetry world all in one place. And if you are part of the poetry community already, it’s a bit like a reunion.”
Festivities for the Poetry Walk begin at 11am in the upstairs ballroom of Hotel Petaluma. The 16 Rivers Press Poets, Christina Lloyd, Alice Templeton, Murray Silverstein and event presenter Terry Ehret will regale early birds with their fine collections of words.
Soon after, at noon in the Petaluma Cheese Shop’s tasting room, the event will continue with three other poets. This lineup includes Emily Schulten, the aforementioned winner of the Geri Digiorno Prize from the Raleigh Review. Then there’s Lynn Watson and Gene Berson, and let’s not forget Bill Vartnaw, the event presenter and a Petaluma Poetry Walk co-producer too.
At 1pm, the event will transition to the main lounge of Keller Street CoWork, where the Sonoma Writers’ Workshop Poets await. There, local filmmaker, wordsmith and Bohemian editor Daedalus Howell will introduce the event and its performers and wordsmiths as well: Jonah Raskin, Lisa Summers, Stacey Tuel and Steve Shain, who manifests poetry via his standup bass.
After that, Petaluma’s poetic pilgrims will flock to The Phoenix Theater at 2pm to take in The Performance Poets, Avotcja, Maxine Flasher-Düzgüneş and Nancy Miller Gomez, all presented by Elizabeth Herron.
The laurel-wreathed crowning glory of the event begins at 3pm in Copperfield’s Books, where The Poets Laureate will perform. Iris Jamahl Dunkle is set to present Lee Herrick, California’s poet laureate, and Genny Lim, the new San Francisco poet laureate.
At 4pm, it’s time to migrate to the Usher Gallery, where Francesca Bell will present the Marin Poetry Center Poets, Ellery Akers and Lee Rossi. Soon after, at 5pm, The Library Poets will gather (unsurprisingly) at The Petaluma Historical Library and Museum. There, event presenters Sabine Wolpert, Lisa Zheng and John Johnson will help to highlight The Library Poets: Georgina Marie Guardado, Jodi Hottel and Elizabeth Jiménez Montelongo.
And then, at 6pm, attention will turn to Aqus Café, with The Grand Finale, which will last until 8pm. Poets Emilie Lygren, Kirk Lumpkin, Chris Olander, Lin Marie deVincent and Fran Carbonaro will perform. And Gwynn O’Gara is set to present not only them but also Sonoma’s new poet laureate, a name most readers will hopefully find familiar (hint: he’s a Petaluma Poetry Walk co-producer)—that’s right; Dave Seter himself.
“I’ve been attending the Poetry Walk on and off since the ’90s when it began,” said Hess. “It’s always been a wonderful event, pulling from the best of Bay Area poets. This year is no exception, with so many poet laureates reading…”
The Petaluma Poetry Walk was founded in the 1990s by Geri Digiorno. She moved to the Bay Area with her family when she was only two during the Great Depression. As an adult, she developed her poetic style after the historical Beat movement in San Francisco. Digiorno’s work helped shape the North Bay’s literary culture, and her efforts are still reflected today. One ripple effect of her poetic pioneering efforts can be seen and heard in the upcoming Petaluma Poetry Walk.
“I have many standout memories [of the Petaluma Poetry Walk], but the formative one was in 1998, seeing poet Patti Trimble reading with guitar accompaniment at Andresen’s,” said co-producer Bill Vartnaw. “It was wonderful, and I couldn’t believe it was happening in my hometown.”
Vartnaw’s involvement in the Petaluma Poetry Walk spans over a decade. This rendition of the event marks his last year as an active planner, after which he will leave its legacy in the capable hands of Hess and Seter.
The event is free. For a complete list of poets, times and venue locations, visit petalumapoetrywalk.org.
