Within Words We Are One
Happy New Year! If you are looking for opportunities in the new year to perform your poetry and spoken word at open mics in Vallejo, Fairfield, or Benicia we’ve got you covered. Perform your poetry at open mics in Solano County and connect with a …
“I am trying to voice a plea for the patterning of a more beautiful and secure human world.” – Irma Meyers, Vallejo poet “Don’t bow down to critics who have not themselves written great masterpieces.” ― Lawrence Ferlinghetti “The poet or the revolutionary is there to …
These are special events are in addition to the regular ongoing monthly open mics in Solano County. Join our mailing list for more up to the minute updates.
March 24, 2026 – 7 PM – Stream the Vallejo City Council Meeting to watch Erik Manuel Soto be officially proclaimed Vallejo’s sixth poet laureate.
March 28, 2026 – 10:00 AM – 11:00 – No Kings 3 at Vallejo’s MLK Plaza – Vallejo Poet Laureate Erik Manuel Soto will be presenting a poem at the demonstration. To register with local organizers, click here. Registration is not required to attend.
March 28, 2026 – 12:00 PM – 5:00 PM – FIESTAS PRIMAVERA at Benicia Gazebo Park on First Street – Vallejo Poet Laureate Erik Manuel Soto will be presenting a poem at the celebration.
April 1, 2026 – 2:30 p.m. – Dr. Genea Brice will be featuring at Contra Costa College library (in the back by the fireplace) 2600 Mission Bell Ave. San Pablo, CA 94806
April 9, 2026 – 6 to 8:30 PM – CA State Poet Laureate Lee Herrick and poets laureate from across Solano County will be participating in Poet Laureate Open Mic Night at the Vacaville Museum on. Admission is $12 for the public, $10 for members. http://www.vacavillemuseum.com/events
April 11, 2026 – National Poetry Month! Join us for the Monologues & Poetry International Film Fest & Open Mic, where poetry steps onto the screen. Beginning at 1:00 pm, we present a powerful fusion of short poetic films from around the globe that will ignite your imagination and leave you wanting to create in a new way. Free to the public, the film screening is followed by a community open mic. Vallejo Naval & Historical Museum – 734 Marin Street in Vallejo
April 19th, 2026 – Doors open at 1PM, readings start at 2PM. – Holograph – In celebration of Poetry Month, seven authors will gather on to give public readings of their work. Features Gillian Conoley, Eli Coyle, Courtney Cliften, Oswaldo Vargas, Jacalyn Eyvonne, David Hakim. Hosted by current Poet Laureate Erik Manuel Soto. CASH BAR non-alcoholic, beer, wine, spirits. Admission is FREE. Red Men Samoset Tribe #22 431 Georgia St, Vallejo, CA 94590
April 19 – 12-2 PM – I Need A Mic open mic at 420 Virginia Street, Vallejo
April 26 – 2-4 – Benicia’s annual event “Our Best to You” has been cancelled.
April 26 – 2-4:30 PM Vallejo Poets Laureate Erik Manuel Soto and Jacalyn Eyvonne feature for Voices at the Table (RSVP to stng21@yahoo.com)
April 29th – 6 – 8 PM – Black Poetry Celebration at the Benicia Public Library in the Dona Benicia Room by Benicia Black Lives Matter. 150 East L Street Benicia
Ongoing monthly open mics include:
Four Bay Area county fairs have annual contests open to poets residing in Solano County. Have your poetry displayed proudly for fairgoers to enjoy. Win ribbons, rosettes, and cash prizes. Some fairs even give free admission with entry. Our annual Solano County Fair takes place …
Join Co-Poets Laureate Jacalyn Eyvonne and Kathleen Herrmann for a book launch celebration of this new anthology of Bay Area poets and beyond. Through a variety of poetic voices and verse, these poets share how the times we live in have affected them in many ways and on many levels. Poets who attend are invited to read their poem(s) at the open mic. Copies of the anthology will be available for purchase and refreshments will be served.
Saturday, January 31st, 5-7 p.m.
Alibi Bookshop, 624 Marin Street, Vallejo 94590
Solano County Poetry Out Loud invites high school aged students to compete in the annual poetry recitation competition. Simply submit student(s) name(s), school, organization and contact information via Email, Text, or Phone Call to Your Local Coordinators by January 7th, 2026. Contact local coordinators Vallejo …
Julie Voice and Anna Santos Quismorio are thrilled to announce YEAH, WRITE: Winter Sanctuary Series 2025 starts Friday December 19, 2025 at THE EXCHANGE VALLEJO! Located at 617 Marin Street Vallejo, CA 94590 Register to attend at Event Brite This month’s intention is RESTORE. Rest. …
Deadline has passed.
The Poet Laureate is dedicated to building community through poetry and encouraging a love
of poetry among people of all ages. The Poet Laureate is appointed by the Vallejo Center for the Arts and is recognized by the City of Vallejo.
The mission of the Poet Laureate is to promote the influence of poetry and enrich the lives of
citizens by sharing and encouraging the gift of poetry.
The term of service is two years, from January 1, 2026 to December 31, 2027. The Poet
Laureate will also join the committee in the search for a successor to the position at the end of
the term. No remuneration is offered for the Poet Laureate position.
A general call for applications is made. The application will be available at www.vallejoarts.org
and paper copies will be available at JFK Library and Alibi Bookshop.
Note: Vallejo Poetry Society is just reposting the application here to help spread the word. The application process is sponsored by Vallejo Center for the Arts. Please refer to the contact information above for any questions or comments.
YOU ARE INVITED… Poets of all ages are invited to view the Art of Community Exhibit at Mare Island Art Studios (launching August 9), select up to three pieces of art, and write poetry for our upcoming ekphrastic poetry event. We’re excited to have Vallejo …
Dear esteemed poets and community members: You are cordially invited to attend A Decade of Poetic Unity: Celebrating Vallejo’s Poets Laureate July 26th, 2025 2-5 PM Vallejo Museum 734 Marin Street Free event. Donations accepted here:https://gofund.me/19b3ee6a This year marks ten years since the appointment of Vallejo, …
