Little River Poetry Festival
June 5 : 1:00 pm - June 7 : 3:00 pm
Join us for the 11th Annual Little River Poetry Festival: A Weekend Retreat from Friday, June 5 – Sunday, June 7, 2026 (begins 1:00 PM Friday, ends 3:00 PM Sunday).
PROGRAMS:
- Gentle Yoga, Poetry Workshops & Readings located at: THE SOWERS’ FARM, 2053 Thunderstruck Road, Floyd, VA 24091
- Daily/Evening Readings, OPEN MICS & Workshops held in Festival Tent
- *New Addition: Guided Horseback Riding on Mountain Farm, Friday 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM*
FESTIVAL COST:
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$60 per person for entire weekend-all poetry programs
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Drop-ins welcome: $20 per day, Free Parking
- Primitive Camping (RV/Tent/Van/Car) in the Meadow: $10 per night
- Kayak Rental for Sat. Excursion: $50 per person
- Meals are available: $15 for a lunch meal and $20 for a dinner meal – made by Chef Aaron Cowan of Driftwood Catering
- Guided Horseback Riding on Mountain Farm, Friday 10:30 AM to 3:30 PM: $75 per rider (Groups of 3) 2-hour sessions – Must reserve in advance by emailing jansensowersatw@gmail.com or calling (540) 505-4995.
DIRECTIONS:
- From Norfolk: Rt. 58 to Rt. 8 North to Floyd
- From Northern Virginia: Rt. 64 to Rt. 81 to Rt. 8 South
EVENTS:
- Day & evening outdoor poetry workshops/readings with Guest Poets
- Evening Bonfires *** Six (6) outdoor daily/evening Open Mics ***
- Morning & Evening Yoga and Meditation ** (Bring your musical instruments!)
- Poetic Excursions: 1. Writing Kayak Trip down the Little River (Saturday) (Notebook Needed) 2. Nature Hike up Thunderstruck Road, Writing (Sunday)
QUESTIONS? Call (Judith) 757-428-7744, Registrar or (Jack) 540-745-2961, Floyd
DAILY SCHEDULE:
FRIDAY, JUNE 5 (Arrive and Register)
- 1:00 p.m. Gentle Yoga/Welcome
- 1:30 p.m. Collen Redman Reads
- 2:00 p.m. A Plethora of Poets (4 Readers)
- 3:00 p.m. Katherine Chantal Reads Her Irish Poetry
- 3:30 p.m. Workshop: “Meter Matters” with Elaine Chandler
- 4:30 p.m. OPEN MIC
- 6:00 p.m. DINNER in the Madow
FRIDAY EVENING ACTIVITIES
- 7:15 p.m. Angela Stevens Reads
- 7:45 p.m. Workshop with Judith “I Am Made Of…”
- 8:45 p.m. OPEN MIC (Door Prize Drawing)
- 9:45 p.m. “Silent Sit” with Dave Patteson
- 10:00 p.m. Shared Music Around the Fire
SATURDAY. JUNE 6
- 8:00 a.m. Gentle Walt Whitman Yoga
- 9:00 a.m. Kayakers depart for Paddle & Poetry
- 10:00 a.m. Kayakers Read to Riverbank Audience
- 11:00 a.m. A Plethora of Poets (4 Readers)
- 12:00 p.m. OPEN MIC (Door Prize Drawing)
- 1:00 p.m. LUNCH in the Meadow with Kayakers
- 2:15 p.m. Poetry/Art Workshop with Becky Taylor
- 3:30 p.m. Rachel Anne Morris Reads
- 4:00 p.m. Libby Koene Reads
- 4:30 p.m. Word Workshop with Brian Magill
- 5:45 p.m. “Silent Sit” with Dave Patteson
- 6:00 p.m. DINNER in the Meadow
SATUDAY EVENING ACTIVITIES
- 7:15 p.m. Jaime Bell
- 7:45 p.m. Paint Chip Workshop with Cas Horne
- 9:00 p.m. OPEN MIC (Door Prize Drawing)
- 10:00 p.m. Music Around the Fire
SUNDAY, JUNE 7
- 8:00 a.m. Gentle Walt Whitman Yoga
- 9:00 a.m. Poetry Nature Walk with Judith
- 10:00 a.m. Beth Huddleston Reads
- 10:30 a.m. Poetry Ensemble: “SHELTER” (4 Voices)
- Michelle Acker, Angela Stevens, Jack Callan & Judith Stevens
- 11:45 a.m. OPEN MIC (Door Prize Drawing)
- 1:00 p.m. LUNCH in the Meadow
- 2:00 p.m. Send-Off Reading with Krista Gerber
- 2:30 p.m. Closing Meditation/Farewell
SEE YOU NEXT YEAR: June 4 – 6, 2027!
