Enjoy a totally free day-long celebration of creativity with the mid(we)st art + lit fest!

Whether you're a writer, an artist, or an avid patron, this daylong destination event in the creative hub of the Chiwaukee corridor promises to enchant and inspire.

Treat yourself to this no-cost retreat, focused on poetry and the arts. Find inspiration, build relationships and celebrate the creative talents of our region. Maybe you'll even find the perfect artistic and literary gifts at featured galleries and pop-up vendor tables for your creative loved ones this holiday season.

But space is limited! Register now for free poetry workshops, an exhibition of ekphrastic art/poetry collaborations, open studios/galleries/museums, pop-up vendor/org tables, creative writing & arts activities for the whole family, a catered evening reception showcase, and discounted room rates at Hotel Verdant -- plus, contribute your writing or art from the event to be published in our post-exhibition catalogue!

Pop-up vendor table and scheduled performance slots are available for registration on a first-come, first served basis.

Event Schedule, Parking & Hotel Accommodations

The most up-to-date schedule of workshops, writing activities, and featured performances appears on The Poetry Movement website, along with parking and hotel accommodations information. Surprise writing activities, additional workshops and special presentations will be added as the date approaches! Final schedule & event map released by Nov. 27.

Donations appreciated but not required

No donation is required to register. Your support will help The Poetry Movement to defray costs and provide more sustainable programming throughout the year.

Note, if you do donate: Givebutter charges us no platform fees or processing charges when we have optional tipping enabled. After you click “Donate,” you can opt to have Givebutter cover processing fees by clicking “Change” next to the processing fee, then unchecking the box. You can choose not to donate to GiveButter by lowering the tip to $0. Tips to Givebutter are not tax-deductible.

Any donations to the Poetry Movement will be processed through our fiscal sponsor, the Racine Arts Council, a federally recognized 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, who receives 5% of Poetry Movement funds to cover administrative expenses for financial management of our accounts. Your emailed receipt for this tax-deductibles donation will include the Racine Arts Council’s federal Employee Identification Number, which you will need to deduct tax donations over $250. Please note that your donation and any processing fees you choose to cover will be tax deductible, but tips given to Givebutter during the check-out process will not be tax deductible.

What is the Poetry Movement?

The Poetry Movement is a nonprofit effort to build literary arts infrastructure in the Chiwaukee corridor and throughout the Lake Michigan-adjacent mid(we)st region. We do that by promoting public poetry projects, promoting a network of regional literary resources and building pipelines to publication for emerging and established poets. You can learn more about our work at thepoetrymovement.org

mid(we)st art + lit fest - Dec. 5, 2026

celebrate :: poetry :: art :: place