Local artists have been hitting the mainstream lately, drawing national attention for efforts in cinema and music—is poetry next?
With 24 poets at eight venues offering a full day of live readings, the Petaluma Poetry Walk is poised to answer that question. Now in its 29th year, the popular walk, which draws hundreds of poetry lovers annually, returns to downtown Petaluma from 11am to 7pm, Sunday, Sept. 20.
Founded in 1996 by the beloved, late poet Geri DiGiorno, who was appointed as Sonoma County’s fourth poet laureate in 2006, the poetry walk has become a favorite local literary tradition in Petaluma. Throughout, the free event has remained true to its original vision: Bring poetry into the community, and create an accessible, energetic space where readers and writers can connect.
Petaluma Poetry Walk director Kary Hess co-produced the poetry walk with locally known poets Bill Vartnaw and Dave Seter in 2024 and then took over the directorship last year. She says the event is always a strong one because “there has been consistent support here for our local talent for almost 30 years.” But this year, the poetry walk feels primed for growth, as Hess notes, “The event has become so well known and loved that many of our poets are now from further afield, including Marin, San Francisco, the East Bay and even South Carolina and New York.”
DiGiorno, who was part of the San Francisco Beat poet scene, eventually landed in Petaluma after her second husband, Tony, died in 1983. She began taking art and writing classes and connecting with other artists and writers in and around Petaluma. Her daughter, Michelle Baynes, then working at the homeless shelter, inspired her mother to keep writing as well as bringing the healing power of poetry and collage to the community’s neediest. When DiGiorno passed away on Dec. 13, 2019, the Petaluma Poetry Walk became her enduring legacy.
Hess says DiGiorno “created a regional poetry scene based here when she founded the Petaluma Poetry Walk in the ’90s, but with a similar far reach.” She adds that “The Raleigh Review, a renowned literary magazine out of North Carolina, awards the Geri Digiorno Multi-Genre Prize for a poet-artist every two years, and the winner is invited to come read at our event. The last winner, Emily Schulten, was the Key West poet laureate and read here two years ago.”
She continues, “This year’s winner is award-winning poet Ellen Kombiyil from New York City, who will read at Copperfield’s Books. So poetry lovers can immerse themselves in a day of amazing poets from all over, including here.”
This year’s roster includes an acclaimed mix of award-winning and laureate poets from across California and beyond, representing a broad spectrum of styles and backgrounds.
The poetry walk opens with a 45‑minute reading in the Hotel Petaluma Ballroom, followed by seven more 45‑minute sessions at other downtown spots, including Keller Street CoWork, the Phoenix Theatre, Copperfield’s Books, the Petaluma Historical Library & Museum, Usher Gallery, Jess Brown Design and The Big Easy, where Hess’ husband and Bohemian editor Daedalus Howell is presenter.
As for some personal picks to look out for, Hess says, “Keep an eye out for our new Sonoma County poet laureate, Claire Drucker, as well as former Santa Cruz County poet laureate Farnaz Fatemi, also reading at Copperfield’s; Marin youth poet laureate Elizabeth Foster, reading at Keller CoWork; and 2025 Berkeley Poetry Festival Lifetime Achievement Award winner Maw Shein Win reading at Jess Brown Designs.”
Beyond the main festival, Hess has broadened the poetry walk’s footprint. A yearly anthology magazine, The Walk, now in its second edition, showcases the featured poets alongside highlights from the broader literary and visual arts scene. To keep the community engaged throughout the year, a Poetry Walk Substack newsletter offers regular updates and an accessible way for supporters to stay involved. Copperfield’s Books also joins the festivities, stocking titles from 16 of the event’s poets for purchase all through September and beyond.
Hess is excited about the ability for attendees and those who can’t attend to be able to purchase books from the poets. She notes, “This year, we have many of the poets’ books for sale in Copperfield’s, starting right now and into the rest of September. So people can enjoy their work before, during and after the event.”
For more information, visit petalumapoetrywalk.org.
Petaluma Poetry Walk at a Glance
Sunday, Sept. 20, 11am–7pm
11–11:45am
Sixteen Rivers Press Poets
Hotel Petaluma
205 Kentucky St.
Poets: Carolyn Miller, Dane Cervine and Lenore Myers
Presenter: Terry Ehret
Noon–12:45pm
Youth Poets
Keller Street CoWork
140 Keller St.
Poets: Nika Grajqevci, Juno Phipps and Elizabeth Foster
Presenter: Maxine Flasher-Düzgüneş
1–1:45pm
Found Poets in the Round
Phoenix Theatre
201 Washington St.
Poets: Lorrie Chang, Mahrs Emerson Schoppman and mOody bLaCk
Presenter: Original Giotis
2–2:45pm
Award-Winning Poets
Copperfield’s Books
140 Kentucky St.
Poets: Farnaz Fatemi, Claire Drucker and Ellen Kombiyil
Presenter: Kary Hess
3–3:45pm
Translator Poets
Petaluma Historical Library and Museum
20 4th St.
Poets: Adrián Arias, Francesca Bell and Pat Nolan
Presenter: Jennifer Barrone
4–4:45pm
Taurean Horn Press Poets
Usher Gallery
1 Petaluma Blvd. N.
Poets: Donna Emerson, Jack Crimmins and Dr. Jeanne Powell
Presenter: Bill Vartnaw
5–5:45pm
Tender Hearts Poets
Jess Brown Design
144 Petaluma Blvd. N.
Poets: Maw Shein Win, Lourdes Figueroa and Luisa Giulianetti
Presenter: Ingrid Keir
6–6:45pm
Word Flights
The Big Easy
128 American Alley
Poets: Deyci Carrillo López, Cintia Santana and Wendy M. Thompson
Presenter: Daedalus Howell
