Get Lit festival highlights
Lovers of literature are set to celebrate this week as Get Lit kicks off seven days of free and low cost programs designed to foster a passion for reading and writing in the greater Spokane area. Attendees can immerse themselves in readings, contemporary comics, play writing, poetry slams, craft classes, open mics and more. And it all starts Monday. For more information and a calendar of all events, go to getlitfestival.org
To help Marie Kondo this word avalanche, we asked Get Lit Executive Director Kate Peterson to share some highlights.
Montvale Event Center is the place to be
“I’m really looking forward to using that space again for our book fair and tons of events like the Native Voices reading; a reading with Leni Zumas and Kirsten Sundberg Lunstrum; a talk from 2018 Teacher of the Year Mandy Manning; Pop-up Prose, which features a handful of talented queer writers from our region; and much more!” Peterson said.
A Celebration of Native Voices: Readings of Poetry and Craft: 10 a.m. Saturday, third floor ballroom at the Montvale Event Center, 1017 W. First Ave., Free.
Pop-Up Prose: Airing Dirty Laundry: 1:30 p.m. Saturday in Ella’s Theater at the Montvale, Free.
Mandy Manning: National Teacher of the Year: 2 p.m Saturday at the Montvale, Free.
Zumas and Lundstrum Reading: 4 p.m. Saturday in Ella’s Theater at the Montvale, Free.
Yoga and poetry
“I’m also excited about some new events we’re doing this year, like Yoga for Writers,” Peterson said. “That’s going to be a special yoga class at the Spokane Yoga Shala, followed by a poetry reading from Janaka Stucky and Ellen Welcker.”
Yoga for Writers: Friday, 8:30 a.m, followed by a reading of Meditative Poetry at 10 a.m. at the Spokane Yoga Shala, 731 S. Garfield St. Registration required at spokaneyogashala.com.
Visiting writers
“And of course, I’m really looking forward to our headlining events,” Peterson said. “Including our big Saturday night reading with Roxane Gay!”
Women Writing the West: Featuring Jennifer Boyden, Keetje Kuipers and Melissa Kwasny, Tuesday at 7 p.m. at the Saranac Building, third floor, Niche Co-Working Learning Studio, Free.
Kitchen Fires: Featuring Claudia Castro Luna, 7 p.m. Tuesday at Spark Central, 1214 W. Summit Parkway, Free.
Tommy Orange: Presented by the Hagan Foundation Center for the Humanities, 7 p.m. Wednesday at Spokane Community College, Lair Auditorium, Building 6, 1810 N. Greene St., Free.
Popular Poetry: Kelly Schirmann and Kaveh Akbar: Friday, 7 p.m. at Downtown Public Library, third floor, 906 W. Main Ave., $12, free for students.
Poetry Salon: Featuring poets Akbar, Schirmann, Stucky, Castro Luna and Anastacia-Renee Tolbert, 9 p.m. at the Downtown Library, third floor, Free.
An Evening with Roxane Gay: Saturday, 7 p.m. at Bing Crosby Theater, 901 W. Sprague Ave., $35, $25 with student ID at TicketsWest.com.
Read Local
The backbone of Spokane’s literary community is its local authors, many of whom are performing at happy hours, teaching crafts and workshops, or moderating at Get Lit venues all over town and in Cheney at Eastern Washington University, so get online to view the calendar.
Always a fun event is Pie & Whiskey co-hosted by locals Sam Ligon and Kate Lebo. This year with readings by Spokane resident Jess Walter, along with Tommy Orange, Tony Flinn, Castro Luna, Alexis Smith, Bruce Holbert, Mathew Sullivan, Zumas, CMarie Fuhrman, Chris Maccini and Tolbert.
Pie & Whiskey: 9 p.m. at The Washington Cracker Building, 304 W. Pacific Ave., $5, 21 and older.
“We always aim to celebrate literature, and celebrate our vibrant literary community here in Spokane, while introducing them to fantastic writers from all around the country,” Peterson said. “We want people to walk away inspired and energized to do their own creative projects.”